me way, a way which had won for her the place of first actress in
England. Could it not now dispose of Moll's wares and make the child
happy? Almahyde's royal train was caught up most unroyally, revealing
two dainty ankles; and she laughed and danced and disposed of her wares
all in a breath. Listen and love:

_Sweet as love-lips, dearest mine,
Picked by Spanish maids divine,
Black-eyed beauties, who, like Eve,
With golden fruit their loves deceive!
Buy oranges; buy oranges!_

_Close your eyes, when these you taste;
Think your arm about her waist:
Thus with sixpence may you win
Happiness unstained with sin.
Buy oranges; buy oranges!_

_As the luscious fruit you sip,
You will wager 'tis her lip;
Nothing sweeter since the rise
Of wickedness in Paradise.
Buy oranges; buy oranges!_

There were cries of "Brava!" "Another jig!" and "Hurrah for Nelly!" It
was one of those bits of acting behind the scenes which are so rare and
exquisite and which the audience never see.

"Marry, gallants, deny me after that, if you dare"; and Nell's little
foot came down firmly in the last step of a triumphant jig, indicating a
determination that Moll's oranges should be sold and quickly too.

"Last act! All ready for the last act," rang out in Dick's familiar
voice from the stage-door as she ended. It was well some one thought of
the play and of the audience in waiting.

Many of the players hastily departed to take up their cues; but not so
Nell. Her eyes were upon the lordly Buckingham, who was endeavouring to
effect a crafty exit.

"Not so fast, my lord," she said as she caught his handsome cloak and
drew him back into the room. "I want you with me." She looked coyly into
his lordship's face as though he were the one man in all the world she
loved, and her curls and cheek almost nestled against his rich cloak. "A
dozen, did you say? What a heart you have, my lord. A bountiful heart!"

Buckingham was dazed; his eyes sought Nell, then looked aghast at the
oranges she would force upon him. The impudence of it!

"A dozen!" he exclaimed in awe. "'Slife, Nelly; what would I do with a
dozen oranges?"

"Pay for them, in sooth," promptly replied the vixen. "I never give a
lord credit."

The player-folk gathered closer to watch the scene; for there was
evidently more fun brewing, and that too at the expense of a very royal
gentleman.

"A player talk of credit