Chatteris Theatre and saw her. One night there were so few people in
the house that the Manager returned the money. Pen came home and went
to bed at eight o'clock, and had a fever. If this continues, his mother
will be going over and fetching the girl, the Major thought, in despair.
As for Pen, he thought he should die. We are not going to describe his
feelings, or give a dreary journal of his despair and passion. Have not
other gentlemen been baulked in love besides Mr. Pen? Yes, indeed: but
few die of the malady.

CHAPTER XIV. In which Miss Fotheringay makes a new Engagement

Within a short period of the events above narrated, Mr. Manager Bingley
was performing his famous character of 'Rolla,' in 'Pizarro,' to a house
so exceedingly thin, that it would appear as if the part of Rolla was
by no means such a favourite with the people of Chatteris as it was with
the accomplished actor himself. Scarce anybody was in the theatre. Poor
Pen had the boxes almost all to himself, and sate there lonely, with
bloodshot eyes, leaning over the ledge, and gazing haggardly towards the
scene, when Cora came in. When she was not on the stage he saw nothing.
Spaniards and Peruvians, processions and battles, priests and virgins of
the sun, went in and out, and had their talk, but Arthur took no note
of any of them; and only saw Cora whom his soul longed after. He said
afterwards that he wondered he had not taken a pistol to shoot her, so
mad was he with love, and rage, and despair; and had it not been for his
mother at home, to whom he did not speak about his luckless condition,
but whose silent sympathy and watchfulness greatly comforted the simple
half heart-broken fellow, who knows but he might have done something
desperate, and have ended his days prematurely in front of Chatteris
gaol? There he sate then, miserable, and gazing at her. And she took no
more notice of him than he did of the rest of the house.

The Fotheringay was uncommonly handsome, in a white raiment and leopard
skin, with a sun upon her breast, and fine tawdry bracelets on her
beautiful glancing arms. She spouted to admiration the few words of her
part, and looked it still better. The eyes, which had overthrown Pen's
soul, rolled and gleamed as lustrous as ever; but it was not to him
that they were directed that night. He did not know to whom, or remark
a couple of gentlemen, in the box next to him, upon whom Miss
Fotheringay's glances were perpetually shini