The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-09-12

30 Ills MOHltiihlI1 MdttHCo
that he lacked nothing, and you may
imagine how many beetles and humming-
birds they mounted daily to turn him ont
in this resplendent condition.
But the tragedian accepted the situa-
ton. In his opinion the privations and
toll of his wife and daughter were so
him, but laid on the altar of the unknown
divinity-the coming manager.
Between the De Lacy household and the
Chipps there was certain similarity OF
position, but it was brighter and gayer
with the De Lacys, for their hopes and
faith opened to them possible future,
while the Chips knew that for them
there could be no amelioration of their lot
Mrs. Chip no longer believed in her hus-
band, while her neighbor had never
doubted hers.
And yet for years and years De Lacy
had been on the books Of all dramatic
agents, and waited on one manager after
another but had never succeeded in OBJ
tanning an engagement. A friend had
procured him once an appointment as
steward of West-end club, where good
manners were an essential, and heaven
knows the actor had those, but all such
propositions De Lacy received with an
4
heroic denial.
II have no right to bid farewell to the
theatre" said t:le great man.
From the lips of this poor fellow, whose
feet had not trod the boards for many a
long year. such words were irresistibly
comic; but glance at the pale wife and
paler daughter quenched any inclination
TO smile; and to hear one or other of them
say as they twisted the steel wire OF their
birds, mo, no, Mr.. De Lacy must not give
up his profession" was enough to bring
tears to ones eyes.
Happy mani idolized in his own home
saluted respectfully by the neighbors
when he appeared in the street, for Lon
doners have an extraordinary predilec-
ton for the theatres and those connected
with them.
And yet this great man went eontented-
~ every Saturday evening to a milliner's
in Regent-street, Il huge paper box under
his arm, to carry home the work Of his
wife and daughter.
Even in executing this commission his
manners and costume We're so irreproach-
able that the young forewoman whose duty
it was to receive him found it extremely
embarrassing to hand him the weeks
wages, so laboliously earned, and so small
in amount.
On these evenings the actor did not
dine ut home; his wife never expected
him; his excuse was always ready, he
had met an old friend, and invited him TO
dinner. He brought home the remainder
Of the money, to he sure. and sometimes
flower for Dora, or a little gift for his
wife. "a mere nothing" he said loftily.
Thus You understand how. notwith-
standing the industry and the courage Of
these two women, and though their laboIs
were comparatively lucrative, they We're
often pressed for money, particularly ut
certain times, when "the season. was over,
and their particular branch of trade Ian
guished.
Fortunately Florence was near at hand,
and always ready to serve his friends.
William Florence. the third tenant on
that floor, resided there with his younger
brother Frank, younger by fifteen years
than himself The two we're natives of
Cumberland, and their tall, manly forms
and fresh compilations seemed to lend
some of their own vitality TO the dark and
dreary house. The eldest was designer
to the Speed mandatory, and paid his
brothers. expenses at school.
When William first arrived in London,
a stranger, and ignorant of the ways of
cities, he gladly availed himself of the
kind offers of assistance made to him by
his new neighbors. Mrs. Chipp and the
De Lacys.
They gave him advice and recommend
ed their own tradespeople, and. altogether,
were most useful to him. In II few
months they all became like one family.
On holidays the brothers were always
asked to the rooms of one or other of
their new friends, and it was no small
consolation to the two exiles to find them
selves welcome at these modest firesides.
Florence's salary was so large, too, occupy
ing as he did, an important position i'll the
wealthy establishment of the Speeds, that
was enabled to bestow on the De Lacys
many tangible benefits, and to enter the
Chipps' room laden with gifts. This
little Sylvia soon understood, and ran to
meet him, climbing ON his knees, and
boldly searching his pockets. Occasional
ly he invited them all to theatre, and
now and then he went with Mr.. Chip or
De Lacy to the Vine, quiet public house
in the neighborhood, where he RECALLED
them with beer and a pipe.
Pipes and beer were his only vice, and
his greatest enjoyment was between his
only with an occasional nod or laugh
Naturally reserved and unable to express
himself fluently. and conscious of certain
provincialisms that chung to him still, he
shiank from new acquaintances. His old
friends absorbed him, while Mt the same
time. impressing upon him their immense
superiority. According to Mr. Chipp, no
man who worked ten hours a day could, by
any possibility, have at the end OF that
time any opinion worth Offering to any one
on any subject.
Sometimes the designer came in over
whelmed with care, meaning after an
hours rest to return to the factory, and
work all night. Mr. Chips air of sur
prised contempt was an absolute study.
IL can't imagine man of sense being
guilty of such folly" he would say.
De Lacy was less fierce, but his super
cilious condescensionw was equally amusing.
Florence was thoroughly convinced of his
own inferiority, and gently sought to in
duce his friends to overlook and forgive
it by thoughtful attentions and kind
nesses. In each of these three humble
homes Sylvia Chip was always welcome
and equally at ease. At any hour of the
day she would rush into the De Lacys
room, perch herself on the arm of Doras
chair, and watch the rapid movements OF
the pale girls fingers. When tired Of this,
the child would pounce on some discarded
beetle, one which had lost wing on its
long voyage, or a humming- bird whose
feathers were hopelessly damaged, such
being always preserved for her use. AL
ready more coquettish than playful, the
little girl would arrange them in her
clustering curls, while Dora and hei
mother smiled to see her standing on tip
toe before the old furnished mirror. Wher
she had studied herself sufficiently, Syl.
via, craving more admiration, would
gravely go and knock on the Florences
door.
During the day only Frank was there
busy over his books at his table by the
window. Sylvia, holding her head very
stitiy, lest her tiara should be disarranged
appeared on the threshold. Farewell tc
study! Everything must be abandoned
to do honor to this princess of fairyland
who came, crowned with shining jewels
to pay him visit.
1t was dloll enough to see this tail
overgrown youth absorbed by his eight.
year-old girl, yielding to her caprices and
whims, so that later when he became mad
ly in love with her, no one could fix the
Aatn xpha, his ,.acoi,,, 1aran