oment a storm of applause broke
forth, in compliment to both, it would appear,--to the gratified actor,
who had thrown his spell over the guileless old sailor to such an
extent as to render him insensible to aught else, and to the innocent
spectator who had been thus impressed by his matchless impersonations.
As the performance came to a close, and the audience were leaving the
house, the captain the centre of all eyes around him, an usher made his
way to him, bearing a request from the star that he would step behind
the scenes and shake hands with him.

Nothing loath, the captain readily consented, inviting the boys to go
with him; but this Douglas, much disturbed by the notoriety of the
evening, flatly refused, while bold Norman, who had no fear of man
before his eyes, agreed to accompany him. Indeed, it was not safe to
lose sight of him; there was no knowing of what vagaries the captain
might be guilty if he were left entirely to his own devices. Norman
felt that he was capable of any thing, and that he must keep a secure
hold upon him. Moreover, the old man was not at all familiar with the
city streets, and he must be guided safely to his boarding-house.

When they arrived behind the scenes, the great actor shook hands
heartily with the old seaman, thanking him for the tribute which he had
paid him. But here the captain's enthusiasm fell flat. Meeting the
object of his sympathy face to face, and as man to man, and finding
that the interesting scenes he had just witnessed were but an
inimitable mimicry, was a great disappointment; and he seemed to feel
wronged and defrauded in some way.

"There warn't nothin' real about it," he said indignantly and in a hurt
tone to the boys, as they took their way homeward. "There warn't
nothin' true at all. There bean't no mother-in-law, nor wife, nor
nothin'; there warn't even any chap with the long whiskers, for it
warn't hisself at all, though he said it was--that t'other one shook
han's with me, and said I'd give him a big compliment. 'Twas all
purtendin' an' makin' b'lieve. It's a shame an' a sin for to go makin'
out so life-like ye are what ye ain't, an' takin' folks in so. It's
kinder cheatin' play, _I_ think; an' Mis' Yorke, she wurn't jes' so
easy in her min' 'bout me goin' to the theayter, an' I reckon I've come
to her way of thinkin'; an' thank ye kindly, boys, but there'll be no
more theayter-goin' fur me. The Scriptur says, 'A fool an' his money is
soon parted,' an'