“I settled down now, sir, to the hardest work ever I had in my life.”
“And that was?”
“Doing nothing. But I couldn’t keep it up. It was ruining my fine constitution.
“I was always fond of the stage, and took Marie to see Ingomar one evening.
“She was delighted. I was not. Ingomar was not written by Shakespeare, I believe, but it was a pet play of mine, and I knew I could act the part better.
“But somehow I went back several nights running. Then, as my good or my bad fortune would have it, one evening the excited manager rushed before the screen to announce that, to his grief and chagrin, the principal actor had been taken suddenly ill, and that the play could not be put on. Yes, of course, he added, the gate-money would be refunded.
“After this, some impulse seized me. I stood boldly up in the box, and shouted with arm extended—
“‘Stay, I know the part, and if the manager will but give me a chance, I will try my best.’
“Every eye was turned towards my box, while Sissie shrank behind the curtain. I am told, sir, that I am not bad looking, and my figure is fairly good.
“There was a wild ‘Hooray!’ now, at all events, and that evening found me before the footlights.