Harry. Surely too, Sir, a diphthong is long; so that the name Apœcides should not be rendered Appy-cides, as if the name were an unaspirated pronunciation of Happy Cides.
To this Mr. Barlow replied that doubtless these honest folks had cogent reasons for their mode of pronunciation, with which he advised Harry to become acquainted, before taking upon himself to pronounce an unmitigated condemnation of them.
"You will now perceive, Tommy," said Mr. Barlow, during the performance of the Third Scene of the First Act, "that the crafty Arbaces is anxious to entice the sentimental young gentleman, Appy Cides, to partake of the repast with him."
Harry. But, Sir, surely the young man's objection to accept the invitation of the Egyptian, must arise from a sense of politeness on his part, which, as there is nothing edible on the table, I fancy, except one plate of fruit, will not permit him to deprive Arbaces of even a portion of a dessert that has, evidently, been only ordered for one.
Mr. Barlow. Indeed, Harry, I think you are right, and had Arbaces thought of it, I am certain he would willingly have extended his hospitality to a bag of nuts or some cakes of gingerbread. But you must remember that Appy Cides, or, as he seems to me, Un-'appy Cides, is only the pupil of Arbaces, and does not appear at his tutor's table until dessert-time.
Tommy. If I were there I would go and eat everything, and then I would dance with one of the young ladies.
Mr. Barlow. I am sorry, Tommy, that you are of that mind; and at another time—for I perceive that the good people in the pit, by their repeated cries of hush, and by the direction of their attention towards us, wish rather to hear the dialogue on the stage than my discourse, which is, after all, of a personal and private character—at another time, I was about to say, I will read to you an instructive story on greediness, entitled Chares and the Convulsive Tailor.
Tommy looked on at the piece very sulkily for some time, being, indeed, intent upon the antique cups and goblets and upon the plate of luscious fruit which he had already noticed. But on seeing that neither Arbaces nor the sentimental young gentleman partook of anything that was provided for them, he began to have high opinion of their breeding, and before the scene was finished was heartily sorry for his error, and applauded all he saw and heard with increasing rapture and delight.
Mr. Barlow. You may, indeed, evince your gratitude to these worthy people, since they have done all in their power to entertain and instruct us. And, indeed, where all is done so vastly well, I know not what to commend most, whether the sonorous voice and dignified scoundrelism of that twice-crushed Priest of Isis, the iniquitous and unprincipled Arbaces, played by the remarkably upright and conscientious actor, Mr. Ryder; or whether the gentle pleadings of the blind Nydia—Miss Hodson is the young lady's name, my dear Tommy, and I have no doubt she saw and appreciated your boyish enthusiasm—or the bearing of Mr. Rignold throughout a remarkably difficult and most trying part. But, Harry, what is your opinion?
Harry. Why, Sir, I am very little judge of these matters, but I protest that I feel mightily indebted to those clever gentlemen, Masters Gordon and Harford (I had well-nigh slipt into the error of saying Masters Merton and Sandford) for the scenery which has so admirably served to illustrate this play. I am sorry that Appy Cides was killed, as, having become a Christian, there would, I am sure, have been every opportunity open to him as an estimable young curate of evangelical proclivities.