英语美文

英语美文

CHAPTER IX - MRS. JOSEPH PORTER

Most extensive were the preparations at Rose Villa, Clapham Rise,

in the occupation of Mr. Gattleton (a stock-broker in especially

comfortable circumstances), and great was the anxiety of Mr.

Gattleton's interesting family, as the day fixed for the

representation of the Private Play which had been 'many months in

preparation,' approached. The whole family was infected with the

mania for Private Theatricals; the house, usually so clean and

tidy, was, to use Mr. Gattleton's expressive description,

'regularly turned out o' windows;' the large dining-room,

dismantled of its furniture, and ornaments, presented a strange

jumble of flats, flies, wings, lamps, bridges, clouds, thunder and

lightning, festoons and flowers, daggers and foil, and various

other messes in theatrical slang included under the comprehensive

name of 'properties.' The bedrooms were crowded with scenery, the

kitchen was occupied by carpenters. Rehearsals took place every

other night in the drawing-room, and every sofa in the house was

more or less damaged by the perseverance and spirit with which Mr.

Sempronius Gattleton, and Miss Lucina, rehearsed the smothering

scene in 'Othello' - it having been determined that that tragedy

should form the first portion of the evening's entertainments.

'When we're a LEETLE more perfect, I think it will go admirably,'

said Mr. Sempronius, addressing his CORPS DRAMATIQUE, at the

conclusion of the hundred and fiftieth rehearsal. In consideration

of his sustaining the trifling inconvenience of bearing all the

expenses of the play, Mr. Sempronius had been, in the most handsome

manner, unanimously elected stage-manager. 'Evans,' continued Mr.

Gattleton, the younger, addressing a tall, thin, pale young

gentleman, with extensive whiskers - 'Evans, you play RODERIGO

beautifully.'

'Beautifully,' echoed the three Miss Gattletons; for Mr. Evans was

pronounced by all his lady friends to be 'quite a dear.' He looked

so interesting, and had such lovely whiskers: to say nothing of

his talent for writing verses in albums and playing the flute!

RODERIGO simpered and bowed.

'But I think,' added the manager, 'you are hardly perfect in the -

fall - in the fencing-scene, where you are - you understand?'

'It's very difficult,' said Mr. Evans, thoughtfully; 'I've fallen

about, a good deal, in our counting-house lately, for practice,

only I find it hurts one so. Being obliged to fall backward you

see, it bruises one's head a good deal.'

'But you must take care you don't knock a wing down,' said Mr.

Gattleton, the elder, who had been appointed prompter, and who took

as much interest in the play as the youngest of the company. 'The

stage is very nar