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her head in the glimmer of the lamp； andand the lamp
goes out； with a groan； and all is dark。
The darkness and the scene frightened people。 Rebecca
performed her part so well； and with such ghastly
truth； that the spectators were all dumb； until； with a
burst； all the lamps of the hall blazed out again； when
everybody began to shout applause。 〃Brava！ brava！〃 old
Steyne's strident voice was heard roaring over all the
rest。 〃By； she'd do it too；〃 he said between his teeth。
The performers were called by the whole house； which
sounded with cries of 〃Manager！ Clytemnestra！〃
Agamemnon could not be got to show in his classical
tunic； but stood in the background with Aegisthus and
others of the performers of the little play。 Mr。 Bedwin
Sands led on Zuleikah and Clytemnestra。 A great
personage insisted on being presented to the charming
Clytemnestra。 〃Heigh ha？ Run him through the body。
Marry somebody else； hay？〃 was the apposite remark
made by His Royal Highness。
〃Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley was quite killing in the part；〃
said Lord Steyne。 Becky laughed； gay and saucy looking；
and swept the prettiest little curtsey ever seen。
Servants brought in salvers covered with numerous cool
dainties； and the performers disappeared to get ready
for the second charade…tableau。
The three syllables of this charade were to be depicted
in pantomime； and the performance took place in the
following wise：
First syllable。 Colonel Rawdon Crawley； C。B。； with a
slouched hat and a staff； a great…coat； and a lantern
borrowed from the stables； passed across the stage bawling
out； as if warning the inhabitants of the hour。 In the
lower window are seen two bagmen playing apparently
at the game of cribbage； over which they yawn much。
To them enters one looking like Boots （the Honourable
G。 Ringwood）； which character the young gentleman
performed to perfection； and divests them of their lower
coverings； and presently Chambermaid （the Right
Honourable Lord Southdown） with two candlesticks； and a
warming…pan。 She ascends to the upper apartment and
warms the bed。 She uses the warming…pan as a weapon
wherewith she wards off the attention of the bagmen。
She exits。 They put on their night…caps and pull down
the blinds。 Boots comes out and closes the shutters of
the ground…floor chamber。 You hear him bolting and
chaining the door within。 All the lights go out。 The music
plays Dormez； dormez； chers Amours。 A voice from
behind the curtain says； 〃First syllable。〃
Second syllable。 The lamps are lighted up all of a
sudden。 The music plays the old air from John of Paris；
Ah quel plaisir d'etre en voyage。 It is the same scene。
Between the first and second floors of the house
represented； you behold a sign on which the Steyne arms
are painted。 All the bells are ringing all over the house。
In the lower apartment you see a man with a long slip of
paper presenting it to another； who shakes his fists；
threatens and vows that it is monstrous。 〃Ostler； bring
round my gig；〃 cries another at the door。 He chucks
Chambermaid （the Right Honourable Lord Southdown）
under the chin； she seems to deplore his absence； as
Calypso did that of that other eminent traveller Ulysses。
Boots （the Honourable G。 Ringwood） passes with a
wooden box； containing silver flagons； and cries 〃Pots〃
with such exquisite humour and naturalness that the
whole house rings with applause； and a bouquet is thrown
to him。 Crack； crack； crack； go the whips。 Landlord；
chambermaid； waiter rush to the door； but just as some
distinguished guest is arriving； the curtains close； and the
invisible theatrical manager cries out 〃Second syllable。〃
〃I think it must be 'Hotel；' 〃 says Captain Grigg of the
Life Guards； there is a general laugh at the Captain's
cleverness。 He is not very far from the mark。
While the third syllable is in preparation； the band
begins a nautical medley〃All in the Downs；〃 〃Cease Rude
Boreas；〃 〃Rule Britannia；〃 〃In the Bay of Biscay O！〃
some maritime event is about to take place。 A ben is
heard ringing as the curtain draws aside。 〃Now； gents；
for the shore！〃 a voice exclaims。 People take leave of
each other。 They point anxiously as if towards the clouds；
which are represented by a dark curtain； and they nod
their heads in fear。 Lady Squeams （the Right Honourable
Lord Southdown）； her lap…dog； her bags； reticules； and
husband sit down； and cling hold of some ropes。 It is
evidently a ship。
The Captain （Colonel Crawley； C。B。）； with a cocked
hat and a telescope； comes in； holding his hat on his
head； and looks out； his coat tails fly about as if in the
wind。 When he leaves go of his hat to use his telescope；
his hat flies off； with immense applause。 It is blowing
fresh。 The music rises and whistles louder and louder；
the mariners go across the stage staggering； as if the ship
was in severe motion。 The Steward （the Honourable G。
Ringwood） passes reeling by； holding six basins。 He puts
one rapidly by Lord SqueamsLady Squeams； giving a
pinch to her dog； which begins to howl piteously； puts
her pocket…handkerchief to her face； and rushes away as
for the cabin。 The music rises up to the wildest pitch of
stormy excitement； and the third syllable is concluded。
There was a little ballet； 〃Le Rossignol；〃 in which
Montessu and Noblet used to be famous in those days；
and which Mr。 Wagg transferred to the English stage as
an opera； putting his verse； of which he was a skilful
writer； to the pretty airs of the ballet。 It was dressed in
old French costume； and little Lord Southdown now
appeared admirably attired in the disguise of an old woman
hobbling about the stage with a faultless crooked stick。
Trills of melody were heard behind the scenes； and
gurgling from a sweet pasteboard cottage covered with
roses and trellis work。 〃Philomele； Philomele；〃 cries
the old woman； and Philomele comes out。
More applauseit is Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley in powder
and patches； the most ravissante little Marquise in the
world。
She comes in laughing； humming； and frisks about the
stage with all the innocence of theatrical youthshe
makes a curtsey。 Mamma says 〃Why； child； you are
always laughing and singing；〃 and away she goes； with
THE ROSE UPON MY BALCONY
The rose upon my balcony the morning air perfuming
Was leafless all the winter time and pining for the spring；
You ask me why her breath is sweet and why her cheek is
blooming；
It is because the sun is out and birds begin to sing。
The nightingale； whose melody is through the greenwood
ringing；
Was silent when the boughs were bare and winds were
blowing keen：
And if； Mamma； you ask of me the reason of his singing；
It is because the sun is out and all the leaves are green。
Thus each performs his part； Mamma； the birds have found
their voices；
The blowing rose a flush； Mamma； her bonny cheek to
dye；
And there's sunshine in my heart； Mamma； which wakens
and rejoices；
And so I sing and blush； Mamma； and that's the reason
why。
During the intervals of the stanzas of this ditty； the
good…natured personage addressed as Mamma by the
singer； and whose large whiskers appeared under her cap；
seemed very anxious to exhibit her