A Dead-Head [pp. 428-438]

4A DEAD- HEAD.
ing, has neither leg, hands, lips, nor Burgundy and Bordeaux, yellow Cliccap!'" exclaimed Vane. quot, and Frontignan; with truffles and
Here his cue called him away, and terrapin, spiced salads and meats, flaky
Aline and I were alone a moment. pastries, tempting fruit, and fanciful con "What was Thornton doing here?" fectionery. A giant bowl hollowed in
I demanded. "Trying to get the piece ice held a claret punch like the legendary
cut so as to lose all the best passages, great carbuncle of the White MountI suppose." ains glowing amid their snow. But
"No, indeed," Aline declared. "He Pruyn's pride was the champagne punch
only came to see me." concocted by himself- "to every litre
"That is no better. Can't he see of the champagne a litre of brandy, a
you as others do?" litre of red rum, and a litre of green
"Just like others; you, for instance." tea." When I arrived, Vane had reach "I have a right to see to the rehear- ed a state of abstraction from worldly
sal of my play." woes, in which, as a god partaking of
She saucily fluttered in my face the nectar, he frowned upon any interference
manuscript pages of her part. I detect- from us mortals, and sung:
ed Thornton's writing.... o just fakir, with brow austere,
"So you interpolate a note of his? I Forbid me not the vine;
fear it will not improve your part." On the first day poor Hafiz' clay
Was kneaded up with. wine!'"'
"Every like is not the same! You Was kneaded u with wie
have such curious fancies." Thornton said: "Follow the example
"If I thought " set by our flower of the drama, and be
"Well-if you did? What then?" serious!"
"You should not draw me on and off "A night - blooming cereus?"' asked
like an old glove." Vane.
"Ah! now, don't get angry. It's not "Truly, a scentless blossom," said
becoming. You must not be cross when Thornton.
I have a charming surprise for you." "What ails thee, Cecil?" exclaimed
"What is it? Tell me." Vane. "Thou'didstcontractand purse
"Not now. When you are in good thy brow together.' What an actor was
humor. Perhaps this afternoon I will lost in thee! Never adopt our professend it to you." sion, though. Napoleon wrote to Talma
"I am good-natured now." of'the instant rewards of the stage.'
"Then please prove it by leaving me Rum-rum- I mean romance-all roto study my part." mance! Behold me! Where are my
I went. I was infatuated with her,'instant rewards?' The public are a
yet tortured by a sense of our unfitness set of geese!"
for each other. That afternoon she sent "Because they hiss you? " asked
me some rhymes about my bouquet Thornton.
which charmed and relieved me. I had Vane eyed him severely for an instant,
misjudged her. Our tastes were similar. sighed, and resumed his knife and fork.
I kissed the verses and carried them "Perhaps," I suggested, "you expect
about with me. I was so happy that I too much of the public."
accepted an invitation from even Pruyn "Even the candor of a noble soul,"
to a dinner with Vane and Thornton at he said, "requires restriction.' Peace!
the old "Poodle-dog." The table glit- Now states the duke some fact."'
tered with Pruyn's own crystal, gold, "I," said Pruyn, "shall send Miss
silver, and Japanese china; with red Vandeleur on her benefit a large silver
1875.]
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