CHAPTER XXVI.
"POLLY IS TO BE MY NAME FOR EVER AFTER" The new year brought the first rehearsal of "The Beggar's Opera." Hippisley with his rich, unctuous humour was Peachum, and not less well suited to Lockit was Jack Hall's quaint face and naive manner.

James Spiller, the favourite of the gods, was Mat o' the Mint, and the solemn visaged Quin essayed Macheath.

Lavinia as Polly was both excited and nervous, and Lucy (Mrs.Egleton) not less so.

The rest of the cast comprised actors and actresses of experience, and they went through their parts philosophically and without enthusiasm.

The motive and the plot and the many songs made up a play which was to them quite novel, and they were somewhat bewildered to know what to do with it.