It was to little purpose that I assured them all, collectively and individually, that of Captain Beauguarde I absolutely knew nothing--had never read the piece -- nor even seen it performed.

I felt, too, that my last appearance in character in a "Family Party," was any thing but successful; and I trembled lest, in the discussion of the subject, some confounded allusion to my adventure at Cheltenham might come out.

Happily they seemed all ignorant of this; and fearing to bring conversation in any way to the matter of my late travels, I fell in with their humour, and agreed that if it were possible, in the limited time allowed me to manage it--I had but four days--I should undertake the character.

My concurrence failed to give the full satisfaction I expected, and they so habitually did what they pleased with me, that, like all men so disposed, I never got the credit for concession which a man more niggardly of his services may always command.
"To be sure you will do it, Harry," said the Major, "why not?
I could learn the thing myself in a couple of hours, as for that." Now, be it known that the aforesaid Major was so incorrigibly slow of study, and dull of comprehension, that he had been successively degraded at our theatrical board from the delivering of a stage message to the office of check-taker.
"He's so devilish good in the love scene," said the junior ensign, with the white eyebrows.

"I say, Curzon, you'll be confoundedly jealous though, for he is to play with Fanny." "I rather think not," said Curzon, who was a little tipsy.
"Oh, yes," said Frazer, "Hepton is right.