There were so few people in the house, that the first act of the play languished entirely, and there had been some question of returning the money, as upon that other unfortunate night when poor Pen had been driven away.

The actors were perfectly careless about their parts, and yawned through the dialogue, and talked loud to each other in the intervals.

Even Bingley was listless, and Mrs.B.in Elvira spoke under her breath.
How came it that all of a sudden Mrs.Bingley began to raise her voice and bellow like a bull of Bashan?
Whence was it that Bingley, flinging off his apathy, darted about the stage and yelled like Dean?
Why did Garbetts and Rowkins and Miss Rouncy try, each of them, the force of their charms or graces, and act and swagger and scowl and spout their very loudest at the two gentlemen in box No.

3?
One was a quiet little man in black, with a grey head and a jolly shrewd face--the other was in all respects a splendid and remarkable individual.

He was a tall and portly gentleman with a hooked nose and a profusion of curling brown hair and whiskers; his coat was covered with the richest frogs-braiding and velvet.