CHAPTER IV. "Gentle girl, if thou wilt be my love, I will advance the high; I'll grace thee with a chaplet made of peari, Set with choice rubies, sparks and diamonds, plant Wherein two sapphires burn like sparkling fire; This will I do, fair Bettris, and far more, If thou wilt love the Lord of Doncaster." THE bill of fare which was presented for the evening's amusement to an uncommonly brilliant and crowded audience, was that of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and the after-piece a musical one, in which most of the vocal performers of celebrity appeared; and our youthful party with their sage conductors, (Mrs. Pelham and Mr. Fothersgill) met with no interruption in alighting from their respective carriages, nor on proceeding in their way to Mr. Trelawney's private box, except that all eyes were directed to an assemblage of so much youthful beauty which was guarded indeed, like "the Hesperian Fruit," but not by objects of a very formidable or terrific appearance, for the graceful and elegant forms both of William and Tanjore Trelawney attracted universal admiration as they conducted their lovely smiling sisters and cousins to the entrance of the box, in the front seats of which Mrs. Pelham placed the lovely Lucy Clarendale, as being the greatest stranger, and Ellen and her younger sister, while she occupied the centre of the second row herself, with Emma on one side, and Miss Trelawney on the other, and the third and fourth row contained Mr. Fothersgill and the three young gentlemen, Tanjore having stationed himself next to the door, as he could not bear confinement, not even during the intervals of the performance, his eyes being in all directions and his ears too; for he presently listened to the following dialogue between two ladies, an el. der and a younger one, who sat in the next box, and who, though unattended, were of the most respectable appearance, and that was immediately after Miss had made her exit in the character of Ophelia, which was performed indeed with her usual eclat, but by no means with her usual sweetness; there was a vein of affectation, and a total want of conception of the character as drawn by the Immortal Bard, which called forth the severest animadversions from the two ladies; the younger exclaimed, "Well, I shall never be solicitous to behold a specimen of the abilities of Miss in that character again; how shockingly she has represented it." To which her companion replied, "Mis-represented it, you mean, my dear; for there is certainly no representations at all in the business. I positively never beheld any thing half so contemptible, no, not even in a barn. But what does it signify; she is Miss; she has got a great name, and the world thinks her a great creature; but she should stick to her line, for it is evident and plain enough to be perceived, that she knows as little of the language of Shakspeare as I do were I to attempt to warble out the notes of Catalini." 66 I own she does not appear to understand the meaning of her author," cried the younger female critic, "but do you know, madam, that I am told Miss is both good natured and liberal.” "Then I can assure you that the report is erroneous," answered the old lady," she is neither the one nor the other; for her good-nature, as it is called approaches nearer to idiotism than to any thing else, and her liberality extends no further than ostentation. To real and genuine good nature she has no pretensions, and with private acts of kindness, and benevolence to individuals, she is totally unacquainted." As the overture to the after-piece was just commencing, here the conversation ended, and the attention of Tanjore Trelawney was directed to another quarter,-two sparks of fashionable notoriety having just entered, to annoy, but certainly not to gratify the audience, by their loud whispers and their ridiculous unmeaning gestures and remarks, which they intended should pass off for genuine wit and humor, but for which it was morally impossible that they could ever be mistaken. "What devilish pretty girls there are in that box," cried one of them, to his companion, who immediately levelled his glass at the face of the lovely Emma and the elegant figure of Miss Trelawney, not withstanding the evident looks of disgust and displeasure with which they continued to be regarded by Mrs. Pelham, or the threatening glance which shot indignant from the eyes of Tanjore, as he survey. ed the dandy-like appearance of these amiable and delectable sprigs of fashion. Unfortunately, however, their eyes were not only attracted by the beauty of the lovely girls, but had rested on the exceedingly grotesque figure of Fothersgill, who in a curious cut drab-colored coat, and a vest of no very modern date, had put on as curious a shaped hat, to prevent the effects of cold, which as it did not intercept any person from a sight of the performance, he had been permitted to wear during the whole of the evening, and to which he had added, a pair of green spectacles, the tout ensemble, therefore, of the quaint tutor's appearance was sufficient to excite the risibility of persons even less disposed to riotous mirth than the two fashionable dandies, who, at the expense of Fothersgill, now heartily indulged in repeated roars of laughter, notwithstanding that silence had more than once, been imperatively called for, from several parts of the house; a demand with which these fashionable gentleman seemed in no humor to comply. Meanwhile Tanjore was by no means an inactive personage, his blood had already mounted to his cheeks, and his eyes had shot forth the most peculiar glances of disdain, while he fiercely whispered in the ears of the petrified Fothersgill,— "If those puppies presume to laugh at you again, Fothersgill, I will knock them down." To which the alarmed tutor replied,— "My God, Mr. Tanjore, I stand amazed at your temerity. Consider where you are, and be quiet I implore you. As to those foolish boys, I dont mind them in the least, I assure you, sit still, that's good soul, now pray do, and to please you I will just take off my spectacles and give them one of my broad looks." "And if that won't do, they shall presently have one of my broad hints, and that won't be a very gentle one, I promise you," cried Tanjore, looking disdainfully towards them. By this time the tutor had not only taken off his spectacles, but No II. 6 his square one of the fashionable sparks immediately followed. little hat, and a burst of loud and immoderate laughter from It was then that the indignation even of Fothersgill himself was roused to some degree of retort, and stepping up to the side of the box, he exclaimed, with a quiet, quaint, but contemptuous expression. "Pray, young gentlemen, in what school may you have acquired such specimens of good-breeding." "I will tell you, my old boy," returned one of them, "if you will inform me whereabouts you manufactured your queer little hat." "And also recommend me to your tailor, my old one, will you," cried his companion," rat me, if the cut of that coat is not admirable.” To which Fothersgill sharply replied, "And I believe, gentlemen, if I was to trouble myself to do that, that neither the hatter or the tailor would thank me for the compliment, or consider themselves much benifitted by the honor of your custom." Foth ersgill having said this, marched back to his seat and quietly sat himself down again, and here the affair would probably have ended; but as the curtain had dropt at the conclusion of the first act, when Fothersgill had addressed this conversation to the young sparks whose impudent and daring effrontery to the old gentleman had several times attracted the attention of many personages who had sat near them, and who now enjoyed the retort made so spiritedly by the tutor, they received a cheek to their ill-seasoned pleasantry which they by no means expected, and were now fully bent on revenging the pretended affront which their consequence had sustained, by breeding a disturbance in the house, or to use a more appropriate term for these gentlemen, by having a spree. One of them, therefore, immediately came over to Fothersgill, and brandishing his dandy cane in a threatening position exclaimed,— "Quiz me, old boy, but I shall call you to account for what you have just asserted; you have made an attack on our honor as gentlemen, and rat me if I don't make you pay for it, unless, indeed, that one of those lovely girls would condescend to intercede for you.' William Trelawney, Sedley Clarendale, and Tanjore, now all rose from their seats, and were immediately up in arms to resent the affront put upon Fothersgill; while Mrs. Pelham exceedingly alarmed, requested that the carriages might be ordered immediately to leave the theatre, which was now beginning from the altercation which had ensued, to be extremely disagreeable to the situation of her beauteous charges. Miss Trelawney and Emma both joining their entreaties, that their brothers would not involve thems Ives in a quarrel with utter strangers, who might take every advantage of their situation, or of any unguarded expression which might in a moment of involuntary resentment, escape from their lips; but the wild impetuous Tanjore would hear nothing, but springing forward, he pushed his brother and Fothersgill on one side, and darting a look of fury at the fashionable spark, addressed him in the following manner, “If you don't immediately get out of this box, Sir, which is the private property of my father, I will knock you down with one hand and lay your companion flat with the other. As to these ladies, I have to apprise you that in the first place, they are my sisters; and in the next, that I will shake any man into atoms who dares to offer them an insult. The old gentleman in the drab colored coat is also under my protection; he is my tutor, and I owe him a respect which will not permit me quietly to see any affront or injury shown to him; therefore, you will be pleased to take the hint I have just given you, either quit this box by fair means, or I will make you by force, that is all I have to say in the business," and Tanjore opening wide the box door, the completely abashed, cowardly and disappointed sprig of dandyism walked out, followed by his silent companion, and as they did not return to their box again, it was very naturally supposed that they had paired off together, heartily glad that they had sneaked out with a whole skin from the little hero, who, though not very for. midable in his appearance, either in bulk or stature, had manifested a spirit and courage which they would have been very sorry to have come in contact with. All eyes, however, as well as all ears had been directed to Mr. Trelawney's box, from whence the scene of confusion proceeded, and the spirited conduct of the young hero, as they styled him, was most enthusiastically applauded, especially by that part of the audience which consisted of many lovely and well dressed females. Meanwhile order and harmony being once more restored, Tanjore had stationed himself behind his grateful and highly gratified tutor, |