Mrs. Stout interrupted her by innocently observing: "I wonder why Shakespeare used so many old sayin's."
Mrs. Tweedie and Miss Sawyer turned pale; Fanny Tweedie giggled unreproved, and then another of those painful silences prevailed.
"Mrs. Stout," said Mrs. Tweedie, when she could control herself, "we have been quoting Shakespeare for over three hundred years; he never quoted anybody."
"My!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout; then she laughingly added: "Perhaps you and Miss Sawyer have been quotin' him for three hundred years, but I'm mighty sure that I ain't."
"When I said we I meant the world," replied Mrs. Tweedie, haughtily.
"Oh," said Mrs. Stout, and the incident was closed.
"What an unfeeling wretch that Shylock was," observed Mrs. Blake, after the rehearsal had continued without interruption for several minutes. "It makes me shudder to think of such a man. How are you going to dress for the part, Mrs. Tweedie?"
"I shall endeavour to dress appropriately, and as becomes my sex," replied Mrs. Tweedie.
"Ladies, let us not waste valuable time talking dress," said Miss Sawyer, impatiently.