nters hammered and
the scenes rose. Miss Marrable, whose temperament was sensitive, became
hysterical under the strain of perpetual anxiety; the family doctor
declined to answer for the nervous consequences if something was not
done. Renewed efforts were made in every direction. Actors and actresses
were sought with a desperate disregard of all considerations of personal
fitness. Necessity, which knows no law, either in the drama or out of
it, accepted a lad of eighteen as the representative of "Sir Anthony
Absolute"; the stage-manager undertaking to supply the necessary
wrinkles from the illimitable resources of theatrical art. A lady whose
age was unknown, and whose personal appearance was stout--but whose
heart was in the right place--volunteered to act the part of the
sentimental "Julia," and brought with her the dramatic qualification
of habitually wearing a wig in private life. Thanks to these vigorous
measures, the play was at last supplied with representatives--always
excepting the two unmanageable characters of "Lucy" the waiting-maid,
and "Falkland," Julia's jealous lover. Gentlemen came; saw Julia at
rehearsal; observed her stoutness and her wig; omitted to notice that
her heart was in the right place; quailed at the prospect, apologized,
and retired. Ladies read the part of "Lucy"; remarked that she appeared
to great advantage in the first half of the play, and faded out of it
altogether in the latter half; objected to pass from the notice of
the audience in that manner, when all the rest had a chance of
distinguishing themselves to the end; shut up the book, apologized, and
retired. In eight days more the night of performance would arrive;
a phalanx of social martyrs two hundred strong had been convened to
witness it; three full rehearsals were absolutely necessary; and two
characters in the play were not filled yet. With this lamentable story,
and with the humblest apologies for presuming on a slight acquaintance,
the Marrables appeared at Combe-Raven, to appeal to the young ladies
for a "Lucy," and to the universe for a "Falkland," with the mendicant
pertinacity of a family in despair.

This statement of circumstances--addressed to an audience which included
a father of Mr. Vanstone's disposition, and a daughter of Magdalen's
temperament--produced the result which might have been anticipated from
the first.

Either misinterpreting, or disregarding, the ominous silence preserved
by his wife and Miss Gart