Glum! it might have been a funeral! There's a healthy prognostication for ye, if ye loike! it's infallible.
[A keen-faced gentleman and a lady enter, from the Green-room, and stroll across the stage to the right, where they lean against the wings and talk. Then two young gentlemen enter, and Rose follows.]
Note.—The actors and the actress appearing for the first time in this act, as members of the Pantheon Company, are outwardly greatly superior to the Gadds, the Telfers, and Colpoys.
Rose.
[Shaking hands with Telfer.] Why didn't you sit near me, Mr. Telfer? [Going to Mrs. Telfer.] Fancy our being together again, and at the West End! [To Telfer.] Do you like the play?
Telfer.
Like it! there's not a speech in it, my dear—not a real speech; nothing to dig your teeth into—-
O'Dwyer.
[Allotting the parts, under the direction of Tom and Imogen.] Mr. Mortimer! [One of the young gentlemen advances and receives his part from O'Dwyer, and retires, reading it.] Mr. Denzil!
[The keen-faced gentleman takes his part, then joins Imogen on her left and talks to her. The lady now has something to say to the solitary young gentleman.]