St. Ronan's Well Page 25
CHAPTER I.
THEATRICALS.
----The play's the thing.
_Hamlet._
The important day had now arrived, the arrangement for which had forsome time occupied all the conversation and thoughts of the good companyat the Well of St. Ronan's. To give it, at the same time, a degree ofnovelty and consequence, Lady Penelope Penfeather had long sincesuggested to Mr. Mowbray, that the more gifted and accomplished part ofthe guests might contribute to furnish out entertainment for the rest,by acting a few scenes of some popular drama; an accomplishment in whichher self-conceit assured her that she was peculiarly qualified to excel.Mr. Mowbray, who seemed on this occasion to have thrown the reinsentirely into her ladyship's hands, made no objection to the plan whichshe proposed, excepting that the old-fashioned hedges and walks of thegarden at Shaws-Castle must necessarily serve for stage and scenery, asthere was no time to fit up the old hall for the exhibition of theproposed theatricals.[II-1] But upon enquiry among the company, this planwas wrecked upon the ordinary shelve, to wit, the difficulty of findingperformers who would consent to assume the lower characters of thedrama. For the first parts there were candidates more than enough; butmost of these were greatly too high-spirited to play the fool, exceptthey were permitted to top the part. Then amongst the few unambitiousunderlings, who could be coaxed or cajoled to undertake subordinatecharacters, there were so many bad memories, and short memories, andtreacherous memories, that at length the plan was resigned in despair.
A substitute, proposed by Lady Penelope, was next considered. It wasproposed to act what the Italians call a Comedy of Character; that is,not an exact drama, in which the actors deliver what is set down forthem by the author; but one, in which the plot having been previouslyfixed upon, and a few striking scenes adjusted, the actors are expectedto supply the dialogue extempore, or, as Petruchio says, from theirmother wit. This is an amusement which affords much entertainment inItaly, particularly in the state of Venice, where the characters oftheir drama have been long since all previously fixed, and are handeddown by tradition; and this species of drama, though rather belonging tothe mask than the theatre, is distinguished by the name of Commediadell' Arte.[II-2] But the shamefaced character of Britons is still morealien from a species of display, where there is a constant andextemporaneous demand for wit, or the sort of ready small-talk whichsupplies its place, than from the regular exhibitions of the drama,where the author, standing responsible for language and sentiment,leaves to the personators of the scenes only the trouble of findingenunciation and action.
But the ardent and active spirit of Lady Penelope, still athirst afternovelty, though baffled in her two first projects, brought forward athird, in which she was more successful. This was the proposal tocombine a certain number, at least, of the guests, properly dressed forthe occasion, as representing some well-known historical or dramaticcharacters, in a group, having reference to history, or to a scene ofthe drama. In this representation, which may be called playing apicture, action, even pantomimical action, was not expected; and allthat was required of the performers, was to throw themselves into such agroup as might express a marked and striking point of an easilyremembered scene, but where the actors are at a pause, and withouteither speech or motion. In this species of representation there was notax, either on the invention or memory of those who might undertakeparts; and, what recommended it still farther to the good company, therewas no marked difference betwixt the hero and heroine of the group, andthe less distinguished characters by whom they were attended on thestage; and every one who had confidence in a handsome shape and abecoming dress, might hope, though standing in not quite so broad andfavourable a light as the principal personages, to draw, nevertheless, aconsiderable portion of attention and applause. This motion, therefore,that the company, or such of them as might choose to appear properlydressed for the occasion, should form themselves into one or moregroups, which might be renewed and varied as often as they pleased, washailed and accepted as a bright idea, which assigned to every one ashare of the importance attached to its probable success.
Mowbray, on his side, promised to contrive some arrangement which shouldseparate the actors in this mute drama from the spectators, and enablethe former to vary the amusement, by withdrawing themselves from thescene, and again appearing upon it under a different and newcombination. This plan of exhibition, where fine clothes and affectedattitudes supplied all draughts upon fancy or talent, was highlyagreeable to most of the ladies present; and even Lady Binks, whosediscontent seemed proof against every effort that could be proposed tosoothe it, acquiesced in the project, with perfect indifference indeed,but with something less of sullenness than usual.
It now only remained to rummage the circulating library, for some pieceof sufficient celebrity to command attention, and which should be at thesame time suited to the execution of their project. Bell's BritishTheatre, Miller's Modern and Ancient Drama, and about twenty oddvolumes, in which stray tragedies and comedies were associated, like thepassengers in a mail-coach, without the least attempt at selection orarrangement, were all examined in the course of their researches. ButLady Penelope declared loftily and decidedly for Shakspeare, as theauthor whose immortal works were fresh in every one's recollection.Shakspeare was therefore chosen, and from his works the MidsummerNight's Dream was selected, as the play which afforded the greatestvariety of characters, and most scope of course for the intendedrepresentation. An active competition presently occurred among thegreater part of the company, for such copies of the Midsummer Night'sDream, or the volume of Shakspeare containing it, as could be got in theneighbourhood; for, notwithstanding Lady Penelope's declaration, thatevery one who could read had Shakspeare's plays by heart, it appearedthat such of his dramas as have not kept possession of the stage, werevery little known at St. Ronan's, save among those people who areemphatically called readers.
The adjustment of the parts was the first subject of consideration, sosoon as those who intended to assume characters had refreshed theirrecollection on the subject of the piece. Theseus was unanimouslyassigned to Mowbray, the giver of the entertainment, and thereforejustly entitled to represent the Duke of Athens. The costume of anAmazonian crest and plume, a tucked-up vest, and a tight buskin ofsky-blue silk, buckled with diamonds, reconciled Lady Binks to the partof Hippolyta. The superior stature of Miss Mowbray to Lady Penelope,made it necessary that the former should perform the part of Helena, andher ladyship rest contented with the shrewish character of Hermia. Itwas resolved to compliment the young Earl of Etherington with the partof Lysander, which, however, his lordship declined, and, preferringcomedy to tragedy, refused to appear in any other character than that ofthe magnanimous Bottom; and he gave them such a humorous specimen of hisquality in that part, that all were delighted at once with hiscondescension in assuming, and his skill in performing, the presenter ofPyramus.
The part of Egeus was voted to Captain MacTurk, whose obstinacy inrefusing to appear in any other than the full Highland garb, had nearlydisconcerted the whole affair. At length this obstacle was got over, onthe authority of Childe Harold, who remarks the similarity betwixt theHighland and Grecian costume,[II-3] and the company, dispensing with thedifference of colour, voted the Captain's variegated kilt, of theMacTurk tartan, to be the kirtle of a Grecian mountaineer,--Egeus to bean Arnout, and the Captain to be Egeus. Chatterly and the painter,walking gentlemen by profession, agreed to walk through the parts ofDemetrius and Lysander, the two Athenian lovers; and Mr. Winterblossom,loath and lazy, after many excuses, was bribed by Lady Penelope with anantique, or supposed antique cameo, to play the part of Philostratus,master of the revels, provided his gout would permit him to remain solong upon the turf, which was to be their stage.
Muslin trowsers, adorned with spangles, a voluminous turban of silvergauze, and wings of the same, together with an embroidered slipper,converted at once Miss Digges into Oberon, the King of Shadows, whosesovereign gravity, however, was somewhat indifferently represe
nted bythe silly gaiety of Miss in her Teens, and the uncontrolled delightwhich she felt in her fine clothes. A younger sister representedTitania; and two or three subordinate elves were selected, amongfamilies attending the salutiferous fountain, who were easily persuadedto let their children figure in fine clothes at so juvenile an age,though they shook their head at Miss Digges and her pantaloons, and noless at the liberal display of Lady Binks's right leg, with which theAmazonian garb gratified the public of St. Ronan's.
Dr. Quackleben was applied to to play Wall, by the assistance of such awooden horse, or screen, as clothes are usually dried upon; the oldAttorney stood for Lion; and the other characters of Bottom's drama wereeasily found among the unnamed frequenters of the Spring. Dressedrehearsals, and so forth, went merrily on--all voted there was a playfitted.
But even the Doctor's eloquence could not press Mrs. Blower into thescheme, although she was particularly wanted to represent Thisbe.
"Truth is," she replied, "I dinna greatly like stage-plays. John Blower,honest man, as sailors are aye for some spree or another, wad take meance to see ane Mrs. Siddons--I thought we should hae been crushed todeath before we gat in--a' my things riven aff my back, forby the fourlily-white shillings that it cost us--and then in came three frightsomecarlines wi' besoms, and they wad bewitch a sailor's wife--I was langeneugh there--and out I wad be, and out John Blower gat me, but wi' naesma' fight and fend.--My Lady Penelope Penfitter, and the great folk,may just take it as they like; but in my mind, Dr. Cacklehen, it's amere blasphemy for folk to gar themselves look otherwise than theirMaker made them; and then the changing the name which was given them atbaptism, is, I think, an awful falling away from our vows; and thoughThisby, which I take to be Greek for Tibbie, may be a very good name,yet Margaret was I christened, and Margaret will I die."
"You mistake the matter entirely, my dear Mrs. Blower," said the Doctor;"there is nothing serious intended--a mere _placebo_--just adivertisement to cheer the spirits, and assist the effect of thewaters--cheerfulness is a great promoter of health."
"Dinna tell me o' health, Dr. Kittlepin!--Can it be for the puir bodyM'Durk's health to major about in the tartans like a tobacconist's signin a frosty morning, wi' his poor wizzened houghs as blue as ablawort?--weel I wot he is a humbling spectacle. Or can it gie ony bodyhealth or pleasure either to see your ainsell, Doctor, ganging about wi'a claise screen tied to your back, covered wi' paper, and painted like astane and lime wa'?--I'll gang to see nane o' their vanities, Dr.Kittlehen; and if there is nae other decent body to take care o' me, asI dinna like to sit a haill afternoon by mysell, I'll e'en gae doun toMr. Sowerbrowst the maltster's--he is a pleasant, sensible man, and asponsible man in the world, and his sister's a very decent woman."
"Confound Sowerbrowst," thought the Doctor; "if I had guessed he was tocome across me thus, he should not have got the better of his dyspepsyso early.--My dear Mrs. Blower," he continued, but aloud, "it is afoolish affair enough, I must confess; but every person of style andfashion at the Well has settled to attend this exhibition; there hasbeen nothing else talked of for this month through the whole country,and it will be a year before it is forgotten. And I would have youconsider how ill it will look, my dear Mrs. Blower, to stay away--nobodywill believe you had a card--no, not though you were to hang it roundyour neck like a label round a vial of tincture, Mrs. Blower."
"If ye thought _that_, Doctor Kickherben," said the widow, alarmed atthe idea of losing caste, "I wad e'en gang to the show, like other folk;sinful and shameful if it be, let them that make the sin bear the shame.But then I will put on nane of their Popish disguises--me that has livedin North Leith, baith wife and lass, for I shanna say how mony years,and has a character to keep up baith with saint and sinner.--And then,wha's to take care of me, since you are gaun to make a lime-and-stanewa' of yoursell, Dr. Kickinben?"
"My dear Mrs. Blower, if such is your determination, I will not make awall of myself. Her ladyship must consider my profession--she mustunderstand it is my function to look after my patients, in preference toall the stage-plays in this world--and to attend on a case like yours,Mrs. Blower, it is my duty to sacrifice, were it called for, the wholedrama from Shakspeare to O'Keefe."
On hearing this magnanimous resolution, the widow's heart was greatlycheered; for, in fact, she might probably have considered the Doctor'sperseverance in the plan, of which she had expressed such highdisapprobation, as little less than a symptom of absolute defection fromhis allegiance. By an accommodation, therefore, which suited bothparties, it was settled that the Doctor should attend his loving widowto Shaws-Castle, without mask or mantle; and that the painted screenshould be transferred from Quackleben's back to the broad shoulders of abriefless barrister, well qualified for the part of Wall, since thecomposition of his skull might have rivalled in solidity the mortar andstone of the most approved builder.
We must not pause to dilate upon the various labours of body and spiritwhich preceded the intervening space, betwixt the settlement of this gayscheme, and the time appointed to carry it into execution. We will notattempt to describe how the wealthy, by letter and by commissioners,urged their researches through the stores of the Gallery of Fashion forspecimens of Oriental finery--how they that were scant of diamondssupplied their place with paste and Bristol stones--how the countrydealers were driven out of patience by the demand for goods of whichthey had never before heard the name--and, lastly, how the busy fingersof the more economical damsels twisted handkerchiefs into turbans, andconverted petticoats into pantaloons, shaped and sewed, cut and clipped,and spoiled many a decent gown and petticoat, to produce something likea Grecian habit. Who can describe the wonders wrought by active needlesand scissors, aided by thimbles and thread, upon silver gauze, andsprigged muslin? or who can show how, if the fair nymphs of the Springdid not entirely succeed in attaining the desired resemblance toheathen Greeks, they at least contrived to get rid of all similitude tosober Christians?
Neither is it necessary to dwell upon the various schemes of conveyancewhich were resorted to, in order to transfer the beau monde of the Spato the scene of revelry at Shaws-Castle. These were as various as thefortunes and pretensions of the owners; from the lordly curricle, withits outriders, to the humble taxed cart, nay, untaxed cart, whichconveyed the personages of lesser rank. For the latter, indeed, the twopost-chaises at the Inn seemed converted into hourly stages, so oftendid they come and go between the Hotel and the Castle--a glad day forthe postilions, and a day of martyrdom for the poor post-horses; soseldom is it that every department of any society, however constituted,can be injured or benefited by the same occurrence.
Such, indeed, was the penury of vehicular conveyance, that applicationswere made in manner most humble, even to Meg Dods herself, entreatingshe would permit her old whiskey to _ply_ (for such might have been thephrase) at St. Ronan's Well, for that day only, and that upon good causeshown. But not for sordid lucre would the undaunted spirit of Megcompound her feud with her neighbours of the detested Well. "Hercarriage," she briefly replied, "was engaged for her ain guest and theminister, and deil anither body's fit should gang intill't. Let everyherring hing by its ain head." And, accordingly, at the duly appointedhour, creaked forth, the leathern convenience, in which, carefullyscreened by the curtain from the gaze of the fry of the village, satNabob Touchwood, in the costume of an Indian merchant, or Shroff, asthey are termed. The clergyman would not, perhaps, have been sopunctual, had not a set of notes and messages from his friend at theCleikum, ever following each other as thick as the papers which decoratethe tail of a schoolboy's kite, kept him so continually on the alertfrom daybreak till noon, that Mr. Touchwood found him completelydressed; and the whiskey was only delayed for about ten minutes beforethe door of the manse, a space employed by Mr. Cargill in searching forthe spectacles, which at last were happily discovered upon his own nose.
At length, seated by the side of his new friend, Mr. Cargill arrivedsafe at Shaws-Castle, the gate of which mansion was surrounded by ascream
ing group of children, so extravagantly delighted at seeing thestrange figures to whom each successive carriage gave birth, that eventhe stern brow and well-known voice of Johnie Tirlsneck, the beadle,though stationed in the court on express purpose, was not equal to thetask of controlling them. These noisy intruders, however, who, it wasbelieved, were somewhat favoured by Clara Mowbray, were excluded fromthe court which opened before the house, by a couple of grooms orhelpers armed with their whips, and could only salute, with their shrilland wondering hailing, the various personages, as they passed down ashort avenue leading from the exterior gate.
The Cleikum nabob and the minister were greeted with shouts not theleast clamorous; which the former merited by the ease with which he worethe white turban, and the latter, by the infrequency of his appearancein public, and both, by the singular association of a decent clergymanof the church of Scotland, in a dress more old-fashioned than could nowbe produced in the General Assembly, walking arm in arm, and seeminglyin the most familiar terms, with a Parsee merchant. They stopped amoment at the gate of the court-yard to admire the front of the oldmansion, which had been disturbed with so unusual a scene of gaiety.
Shaws-Castle, though so named, presented no appearance of defence; andthe present edifice had never been designed for more than theaccommodation of a peaceful family, having a low, heavy front, loadedwith some of that meretricious ornament, which, uniting, or ratherconfounding, the Gothic and Grecian architecture, was much used duringthe reigns of James VI. of Scotland, and his unfortunate son. The courtformed a small square, two sides of which were occupied by suchbuildings as were required for the family, and the third by the stables,the only part to which much attention had been paid, the present Mr.Mowbray having put them into excellent order. The fourth side of thesquare was shut up by a screen wall, through which a door opened to theavenue; the whole being a kind of structure, which may be still found onthose old Scottish properties, where a rage to render their place_Parkish_, as was at one time the prevailing phrase, has not induced theowners to pull down the venerable and sheltering appendages with whichtheir wiser fathers had screened their mansion, and to lay the wholeopen to the keen north-east; much after the fashion of a spinster offifty, who chills herself to gratify the public by an exposure of herthin red elbows, and shrivelled neck and bosom.
A double door, thrown hospitably open on the present occasion, admittedthe company into a dark and low hall, where Mowbray himself, wearingthe under dress of Theseus, but not having yet assumed his ducal cap androbes, stood to receive his guests with due courtesy, and to indicate toeach the road allotted to him. Those who were to take a share in therepresentation of the morning, were conducted to an old saloon, destinedfor a green-room, and which communicated with a series of apartments onthe right, hastily fitted with accommodations for arranging andcompleting their toilet; while others, who took no part in the intendeddrama, were ushered to the left, into a large, unfurnished, and longdisused dining parlour, where a sashed door opened into the gardens,crossed with yew and holly hedges, still trimmed and clipped by the oldgrey-headed gardener, upon those principles which a Dutchman thoughtworthy of commemorating in a didactic poem upon the _Ars Topiaria_.
A little wilderness, surrounding a beautiful piece of the smoothestturf, and itself bounded by such high hedges as we have described, hadbeen selected as the stage most proper for the exhibition of theintended dramatic picture. It afforded many facilities; for a risingbank exactly in front was accommodated with seats for the spectators,who had a complete view of the silvan theatre, the bushes and shrubshaving been cleared away, and the place supplied with a temporaryscreen, which, being withdrawn by the domestics appointed for thatpurpose, was to serve for the rising of the curtain. A covered trellis,which passed through another part of the garden, and terminated with aprivate door opening from the right wing of the building, seemed as ifit had been planted on purpose for the proposed exhibition, as it servedto give the personages of the drama a convenient and secret access fromthe green-room to the place of representation. Indeed, the dramatispersonae, at least those who adopted the management of the matter, wereinduced, by so much convenience, to extend, in some measure, theiroriginal plan; and, instead of one group, as had been at first proposed,they now found themselves able to exhibit to the good company asuccession of three or four, selected and arranged from different partsof the drama; thus giving some duration, as well as some variety, to theentertainment, besides the advantage of separating and contrasting thetragic and the comic scenes.
After wandering about amongst the gardens, which contained little tointerest any one, and endeavouring to recognise some characters, who,accommodating themselves to the humours of the day, had ventured toappear in the various disguises of ballad-singers, pedlars, shepherds,Highlanders, and so forth, the company began to draw together towardsthe spot where the seats prepared for them, and the screen drawn infront of the bosky stage, induced them to assemble, and excitedexpectation, especially as a scroll in front of the esplanade set forth,in the words of the play, "This green plot shall be our stage, thishawthorn brake our tiring-house, and we will do it in action." A delayof about ten minutes began to excite some suppressed murmurs ofimpatience among the audience, when the touch of Gow's fiddle suddenlyburst from a neighbouring hedge, behind which he had established hislittle orchestra. All were of course silent,
"As through his dear strathspeys he bore with Highland rage."
And when he changed his strain to an adagio, and suffered his music todie away in the plaintive notes of Roslin Castle, the echoes of the oldwalls were, after a long slumber, awakened by that enthusiastic burst ofapplause, with which the Scots usually received and rewarded theircountry's gifted minstrel.
"He is his father's own son," said Touchwood to the clergyman, for bothhad gotten seats near about the centre of the place of audience. "It ismany a long year since I listened to old Neil at Inver, and, to saytruth, spent a night with him over pancakes and Athole brose; and Inever expected to hear his match again in my lifetime. But stop--thecurtain rises."
The screen was indeed withdrawn, and displayed Hermia, Helena, and theirlovers, in attitudes corresponding to the scene of confusion occasionedby the error of Puck.
Messrs. Chatterly and the Painter played their parts neither better norworse than amateur actors in general; and the best that could be said ofthem was, that they seemed more than half ashamed of their exoticdresses, and of the public gaze.
But against this untimely weakness Lady Penelope was guarded, by thestrong shield of self-conceit. She minced, ambled, and, notwithstandingthe slight appearance of her person, and the depredations which time hadmade on a countenance that had never been very much distinguished forbeauty, seemed desirous to top the part of the beautiful daughter ofEgeus. The sullenness which was proper to the character of Hermia, wasmuch augmented by the discovery that Miss Mowbray was so much betterdressed than herself,--a discovery which she had but recently made, asthat young lady had not attended on the regular rehearsals at the Well,but once, and then without her stage habit. Her ladyship, however, didnot permit this painful sense of inferiority, where she had expectedtriumph, so far to prevail over her desire of shining, as to interruptmaterially the manner in which she had settled to represent her portionof the scene. The nature of the exhibition precluded much action, butLady Penelope made amends by such a succession of grimaces, as mightrival, in variety at least, the singular display which Garrick used tocall "going his rounds." She twisted her poor features into looks ofmost desperate love towards Lysander; into those of wonder and offendedpride, when she turned them upon Demetrius; and finally settled them onHelena, with the happiest possible imitation of an incensed rival, whofeels the impossibility of relieving her swollen heart by tears alone,and is just about to have recourse to her nails.
No contrast could be stronger in looks, demeanour, and figure, than thatbetween Hermia and Helena. In the latter character, the beautiful formand foreign dress of Miss Mowbray attracted all
eyes. She kept her placeon the stage, as a sentinel does that which his charge assigns him; forshe had previously told her brother, that though she consented, at hisimportunity, to make part of the exhibition, it was as a piece of thescene, not as an actor, and accordingly a painted figure could scarce bemore immovable. The expression of her countenance seemed to be that ofdeep sorrow and perplexity, belonging to her part, over which wanderedat times an air of irony or ridicule, as if she were secretly scorningthe whole exhibition, and even herself for condescending to become partof it. Above all, a sense of bashfulness had cast upon her cheek acolour, which, though sufficiently slight, was more than her countenancewas used to display; and when the spectators beheld, in the splendourand grace of a rich Oriental dress, her whom they had hitherto beenaccustomed to see attired only in the most careless manner, they feltthe additional charms of surprise and contrast; so that the bursts ofapplause which were vollied towards the stage, might be said to beaddressed to her alone, and to vie in sincerity with those which havebeen forced from an audience by the most accomplished performer.
"Oh, that puir Lady Penelope!" said honest Mrs. Blower, who, when herscruples against the exhibition were once got over, began to look uponit with particular interest,--"I am really sorry for her puir face, forshe gars it work like the sails of John Blower's vesshel in a stiffbreeze.--Oh, Doctor Cacklehen, dinna ye think she wad need, if it werepossible, to rin ower her face wi' a gusing iron, just to take thewrunkles out o't?"
"Hush, hush! my good dear Mrs. Blower," said the Doctor; "Lady Penelopeis a woman of quality, and my patient, and such people always actcharmingly--you must understand there is no hissing at a privatetheatre--Hem!"
"Ye may say what ye like, Doctor, but there is nae fule like an auldfule--To be sure, if she was as young and beautiful as MissMowbray--hegh me, and I didna use to think her sae bonny neither--butdress--dress makes an unco difference--That shawl o' hers--I daur saythe like o't was ne'er seen in braid Scotland--It will be real Indian,I'se warrant."
"Real Indian!" said Mr. Touchwood, in an accent of disdain, which ratherdisturbed Mrs. Blower's equanimity,--"why, what do you suppose it shouldbe, madam?"
"I dinna ken, sir," said she, edging somewhat nearer the Doctor, notbeing altogether pleased, as she afterwards allowed, with the outlandishappearance and sharp tone of the traveller; then pulling her own draperyround her shoulders, she added, courageously, "There are braw shawlsmade at Paisley, that ye will scarce ken frae foreign."
"Not know Paisley shawls from Indian, madam?" said Touchwood; "why, ablind man could tell by the slightest touch of his little finger. Yonshawl, now, is the handsomest I have seen in Britain--and at thisdistance I can tell it to be a real _Tozie_."
"Cozie may she weel be that wears it," said Mrs. Blower. "I declare, nowI look on't again, it's a perfect beauty."
"It is called Tozie, ma'am, not cozie," continued the traveller; "theShroffs at Surat told me in 1801, that it is made out of the inner coatof a goat."
"Of a sheep, sir, I am thinking ye mean, for goats has nae woo'."
"Not much of it, indeed, madam, but you are to understand they use onlythe inmost coat; and then their dyes--that Tozie now will keep itscolour while there is a rag of it left--men bequeath them in legacies totheir grandchildren."
"And a very bonny colour it is," said the dame; "something like amouse's back, only a thought redder--I wonder what they ca' thatcolour."
"The colour is much admired, madam," said Touchwood, who was now on afavourite topic; "the Mussulmans say the colour is betwixt that of anelephant and the breast of the _faughta_."
"In troth, I am as wise as I was," said Mrs. Blower.
"The _faughta_, madam, so called by the Moors, (for the Hindhus call it_hollah_,) is a sort of pigeon, held sacred among the Moslem of India,because they think it dyed its breast in the blood of Ali.--But I seethey are closing the scene.--Mr. Cargill, are you composing your sermon,my good friend, or what can you be thinking of?"
Mr. Cargill had, during the whole scene, remained with his eyes fixed,in intent and anxious, although almost unconscious gaze, upon ClaraMowbray; and when the voice of his companion startled him out of hisreverie, he exclaimed, "Most lovely--most unhappy--yes--I must and willsee her!"
"See her?" replied Touchwood, too much accustomed to his friend'ssingularities to look for much reason or connexion in any thing he saidor did; "Why, you shall see her and talk to her too, if that will giveyou pleasure.--They say now," he continued, lowering his voice to awhisper, "that this Mowbray is ruined. I see nothing like it, since hecan dress out his sister like a Begum. Did you ever see such a splendidshawl?"
"Dearly purchased splendour," said Mr. Cargill, with a deep sigh; "Iwish that the price be yet fully paid!"
"Very likely not," said the traveller; "very likely it's gone to thebook; and for the price, I have known a thousand rupees given for such ashawl in the country.--But hush, hush, we are to have another tune fromNathaniel--faith, and they are withdrawing the screen--Well, they havesome mercy--they do not let us wait long between the acts of theirfollies at least--I love a quick and rattling fire in thesevanities--Folly walking a funeral pace, and clinking her bells to thetime of a passing knell, makes sad work indeed."
A strain of music, beginning slowly, and terminating in a light and wildallegro, introduced on the stage those delightful creatures of therichest imagination that ever teemed with wonders, the Oberon andTitania of Shakspeare. The pigmy majesty of the captain of the fairyband had no unapt representative in Miss Digges, whose modesty was notso great an intruder as to prevent her desire to present him in all hisdignity, and she moved, conscious of the graceful turn of a prettyankle, which, encircled with a string of pearls, and clothed inflesh-coloured silk, of the most cobweb texture, rose above the crimsonsandal. Her jewelled tiara, too, gave dignity to the frown with whichthe offended King of Shadows greeted his consort, as each entered uponthe scene at the head of their several attendants.
The restlessness of the children had been duly considered; and,therefore, their part of the exhibition had been contrived to representdumb show, rather than a stationary picture. The little Queen of Elveswas not inferior in action to her moody lord, and repaid, with a look offemale impatience and scorn, the haughty air which seemed to express hissullen greeting,
"Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania."
The other children were, as usual, some clever and forward, some loutishand awkward enough; but the gambols of childhood are sure to receiveapplause, paid, perhaps, with a mixture of pity and envy, by those inadvanced life; and besides, there were in the company several fond papasand mammas, whose clamorous approbation, though given apparently to thewhole performers, was especially dedicated in their hearts to their ownlittle Jackies and Marias,--for _Mary_, though the prettiest and mostclassical of Scottish names, is now unknown in the land. The elves,therefore, played their frolics, danced a measure, and vanished withgood approbation.
The anti-mask, as it may be called, of Bottom, and his company ofactors, next appeared on the stage, and a thunder of applause receivedthe young Earl, who had, with infinite taste and dexterity, transformedhimself into the similitude of an Athenian clown; observing the Greciancostume, yet so judiciously discriminated from the dress of the highercharacters, as at once to fix the character of a thick-skinned mechanicon the wearer. Touchwood, in particular, was loud in his approbation,from which the correctness of the costume must be inferred; for thathonest gentleman, like many other critics, was indeed not very muchdistinguished for good taste, but had a capital memory for petty mattersof fact; and, while the most impressive look or gesture of an actormight have failed to interest him, would have censured most severely thefashion of a sleeve, or the colour of a shoe-tie.
But the Earl of Etherington's merits were not confined to his externalappearance; for, had his better fortunes failed him, his deserts, likethose of Hamlet, might have got him a fellowship in a cry of players. Hepresented, though in dumb show, the pragmatic con
ceit of Bottom, to theinfinite amusement of all present, especially of those who were wellacquainted with the original; and when he was "translated" by Puck, hebore the ass's head, his newly-acquired dignity, with an appearance ofconscious greatness, which made the metamorphosis, though in itselfsufficiently farcical, irresistibly comic. He afterwards displayed thesame humour in his frolics with the fairies, and the intercourse whichhe held with Messrs. Cobweb, Mustard-seed, Pease-blossom, and the restof Titania's cavaliers, who lost all command of their countenances atthe gravity with which he invited them to afford him the luxury ofscratching his hairy snout. Mowbray had also found a fittingrepresentative for Puck in a queer-looking, small-eyed boy of theAultoun of St. Ronan's, with large ears projecting from his head liketurrets from a Gothic building. This exotic animal personified the merryand mocking spirit of Hobgoblin with considerable power, so that thegroup bore some resemblance to the well-known and exquisite delineationof Puck by Sir Joshua, in the select collection of the Bard of Memory.It was, however, the ruin of the St. Ronan's Robin Goodfellow, who didno good afterwards,--"gaed an ill gate," as Meg Dods said, and "took on"with a party of strolling players.
The entertainment closed with a grand parade of all the characters thathad appeared, during which Mowbray concluded that the young lordhimself, unremarked, might have time enough to examine the outward form,at least, of his sister Clara, whom, in the pride of his heart, he couldnot help considering superior in beauty, dressed as she now was, withevery advantage of art, even to the brilliant Amazon, Lady Binks. It istrue, Mowbray was not a man to give preference to the intellectualexpression of poor Clara's features over the sultana-like beauty of thehaughty dame, which promised to an admirer all the vicissitudes that canbe expressed by a countenance lovely in every change, and changing asoften as an ardent and impetuous disposition, unused to constraint, anddespising admonition, should please to dictate. Yet, to do him justice,though his preference was perhaps dictated more by fraternal partialitythan by purity of taste, he certainly, on the present occasion, felt thefull extent of Clara's superiority; and there was a proud smile on hislip, as, at the conclusion of the divertisement, he asked the Earl howhe had been pleased. The rest of the performers had separated, and theyoung lord remained on the stage, employed in disembarrassing himself ofhis awkward visor, when Mowbray put this question, to which, thoughgeneral in terms, he naturally gave a particular meaning.
"I could wear my ass's head for ever," he said, "on condition my eyeswere to be so delightfully employed as they have been during the lastscene.--Mowbray, your sister is an angel!"
"Have a care that that headpiece of yours has not perverted your taste,my lord," said Mowbray. "But why did you wear that disguise on your lastappearance? You should, I think, have been uncovered."
"I am ashamed to answer you," said the Earl; "but truth is, firstimpressions are of consequence, and I thought I might do as wisely notto appear before your sister, for the first time, in the character ofBully Bottom."
"Then you change your dress, my lord, for dinner, if we call ourluncheon by that name?" said Mowbray.
"I am going to my room this instant for that very purpose," replied theEarl.
"And I," said Mowbray, "must step in front, and dismiss the audience;for I see they are sitting gaping there, waiting for another scene."
They parted upon this; and Mowbray, as Duke Theseus, stepped before thescreen, and announcing the conclusion of the dramatic pictures whichthey had had the honour to present before the worshipful company,thanked the spectators for the very favourable reception which they hadafforded; and intimated to them, that if they could amuse themselves bystrolling for an hour among the gardens, a bell would summon to thehouse at the expiry of that time, when some refreshments would waittheir acceptance. This annunciation was received with the applause dueto the _Amphitryon ou l'on dine_; and the guests, arising from beforethe temporary theatre, dispersed through the gardens, which were of someextent, to seek for or create amusement to themselves. The music greatlyaided them in this last purpose, and it was not long ere a dozen ofcouples and upwards, were "tripping it on the light fantastic toe," (Ilove a phrase that is not hackneyed,) to the tune of Monymusk.
Others strolled through the grounds, meeting some quaint disguise at theend of every verdant alley, and communicating to others the surprise andamusement which they themselves were receiving. The scene, from thevariety of dresses, the freedom which it gave to the display of humouramongst such as possessed any, and the general disposition to give andreceive pleasure, rendered the little masquerade more entertaining thanothers of the kind for which more ample and magnificent preparationshave been made. There was also a singular and pleasing contrast betweenthe fantastic figures who wandered through the gardens, and the quietscene itself, to which the old clipt hedges, the formal distribution ofthe ground, and the antiquated appearance of one or two fountains andartificial cascades, in which the naiads had been for the noncecompelled to resume their ancient frolics, gave an appearance of unusualsimplicity and seclusion, and which seemed rather to belong to the lastthan to the present generation.
FOOTNOTES:
[II-1] At Kilruddery, the noble seat of Lord Meath, in the county ofWicklow, there is a situation for private theatrical exhibitions in theopen air, planted out with the evergreens which arise there in the mostluxuriant magnificence. It has a wild and romantic effect, reminding oneof the scene in which Bottom rehearsed his pageant, with a green plotfor a stage, and a hawthorn brake for a tiringroom.
[II-2] See Mr. William Stewart Rose's very interesting Letters from theNorth of Italy, Vol. I. Letter XXX., where this curious subject istreated with the information and precision which distinguish thataccomplished author.
[II-3] "The Arnaouts or Albanese," (says Lord Byron,) "struck me forciblyby their resemblance to the Highlanders of Scotland, in dress, figure,and manner of living. Their very mountains seem Caledonian, with akinder climate. The kilt, though white; the spare, active form; theirdialect Celtic, in the sound, and their hardy habits, all carried meback to Morven."--_Notes to the Second Chapter of Childe Harold'sPilgrimage._