I felt that he had never before brought to bear upon them the consummate art of that high comedy of which he is the greatest living exponent. But I could not help noticing that the gentleman who had protested so enthusiastic an admiration for the actor, was greatly puzzled as the recitation went on, and I came to the conclusion that he had not the remotest idea what it was all about. When some ladies laughed outright at the delivery of the lines, with matchless adroitness,
“I did not love as others do—
None ever did that I’ve heard tell of,”
the man looked angrily round and cried “Hsh!” but even this did not overawe the young women, and they all laughed again at,
“One night I saw him squeeze her hand—
There was no doubt about the matter.
I said he must resign, or stand
My vengeance—and he chose the latter.”
But by this time it had dawned upon the jealous guardian of Mr. Irving’s professional reputation that the poem was meant to be a trifle humorous, and so soon as he became convinced of this, he almost interrupted the reciter with his uproarious hilarity, especially at places where the humour was far too subtle for laughter; and at the close he wiped his eyes and declared that the fun was too much for him.
I asked a relative of his if he thought that the man had the slightest notion of what the poem was about, and his relative said,—