STAGE MAN. (_interrupting_). “Slow music throughout.” FIRST O. M. (_continuing_). “‘Never from that night--er--golden--I can’t believe she’s dead.’” _Scrape from the fiddle, followed by bar, to bring on_ FIRST OLD WOMAN. FIRST O. W. (_without moving from her seat, and coming straight to the cue with a suddenness which startles everybody)_. “‘Fold you to my breast.’” MAN. WIFE. “’ Mother! ‘--Got the rheumatism again?” FIRST O. W. “Got it _again_! It’s never gone yet, drat it--’ My child!’” _Powerful scrape from the fiddle._ FIRST O. M. “Where am I?” STAGE MAN. “Left, down stage.” MAN. WIFE. “We embrace, left center. Knock heard.” STAGE MAN. (_crossing center_). “That’s me. * Keep it up: it’s a picture. You and Mrs. -------- there, embracing, and the old boy down in the corner, when I open the door.--Rain and wind for this scene, mind.” * That was the way he treated Lindley Murray. We were inexpressibly grieved and shocked--all of us--but what were we to do? HOVERING CARPENTER (_at top of his voice_). “Jim! wind and rain for last scene of first act.” _Husky but indignant voice from the flics expressing an earliest desire that every one should go to the devil._ STAGE MAN. (_who always rehearsed his speeches at full length, and in a tone of voice as if he were reciting the multiplication table_). “‘I am pursued. My life is at stake. Hide me from these bloodhounds who are on my track. Hark! they are here. Thank Heaven, they are past. I am safe. Ha, who is this we have here? ‘Sdeath, I am in luck to-night. Sir Henry will thank me, when I bring his strayed lamb back to him. Come with me, my little runaway,’ Nay, resist not, or ‘twill be the worse for all.’ I catch hold of you. We struggle. ‘Come, I say, with me. Come, I say!” FIRST O. W. “* Die together!” _Scrape from the fiddle._ STAGE MAN. (_loudly, after waiting a minute_). “‘Die together.’” FIRST O. M. “I beg pardon. I didn’t hear.” (_Fumbles with his part, and loses his place._) MAN. WIFE. “He really ought to use an ear-trumpet.” FIRST O. M. Er-r-r--Heaven will give me strength--er--can strike a blow!” (_Shakes his stick at_ STAGE MANAGER.) _Tremendous hammering suddenly begun at back, eliciting forcible expressions of disapproval from all the members of the company, with the exception of the FIRST OLD MAN, who doesn’t hear it, and goes on calmly with the rehearsal all by himself._ STAGE MAN. (_in a rage_). “Stop that noise! Stop that noise, I say!” _Noise continues._ JIM (_eager for the fray_). “How can we do our work without noise, I should like to know?” STAGE MAN. (_crossly_). “Can’t you do it at some other time?” JIM (_angrily_). “No, we can’t do it at some other time! Do you think we’re here all night?” STAGE MAN. (_mildly_). “But, my dear fellow, how can we go on with the rehearsal?”