To which the carpenter readily assented, and added, that “gentlemen of spirit never looked to the _expense_, but always to the _effect_.” Upon this principle Mr. Chip set to work with all possible alacrity. In a few hours’ time he promised to produce a grand effect. High expectations were formed. Nothing was talked of but the new playhouse; and so intent upon it was every head, that no lessons could be got. Archer was obliged, in the midst of his various occupations, to perform the part of grammar and dictionary for twenty different people. “O ye Athenians!” he exclaimed, “how hard do I work to obtain your praise!” Impatient to return to the theatre, the moment the hours destined for instruction, or, as they are termed by schoolboys, school-hours, were over, each prisoner started up with a shout of joy. “Stop one moment, gentlemen, if you please,” said Dr. Middleton, in an awful voice. “Mr. Archer, return to your place. Are you all here?” The names of all the boys were called over, and when each had answered to his name, Dr. Middleton said— “Gentlemen, I am sorry to interrupt your amusements; but, till you have contrary orders from me, no one, on pain of my serious displeasure, must go into _that_ building” (pointing to the place where the theatre was erecting). “Mr. Archer, your carpenter is at the door. You will be so good as to dismiss him. I do not think proper to give my reasons for these orders; but you who _know_ me,” said the doctor, and his eye turned towards De Grey, “will not suspect me of caprice. I depend, gentlemen, upon your obedience.” To the dead silence with which these orders were received, succeeded in a few minutes a universal groan. “So!” said Townsend, “all our diversion is over.” “So,” whispered Fisher in the manager’s ear, “this is some trick of the Greybeard’s. Did you not observe how he looked at De Grey?” Fired by this thought, which had never entered his mind before, Archer started from his reverie, and striking his hand upon the table, swore that he “would not be outwitted by any Greybeard in Europe—no, nor by all of them put together. The Archers were surely a match for them. He would stand by them, if they would stand by him,” he declared, with a loud voice, “against the whole world, and Dr. Middleton himself, with ‘_Little Premiums_’ at his right hand.” Everybody admired Archer’s spirit, but were a little appalled at the sound of standing against Dr. Middleton. “Why not?” resumed the indignant manager. “Neither Dr. Middleton nor any doctor upon earth shall treat me with injustice. This, you see, is a stroke at me and my party, and I won’t bear it.” “Oh, you are mistaken!” said De Grey, who was the only one who dared to oppose reason to the angry orator. “It cannot be a stroke aimed at ‘you and your party,’ for he does not know that you _have_ a party.”