DEEPER AND DEEPER. 7

time in his life that ever a mistake had been made at
his counter in a physician's prescription.

Williams knew well enough the cause of his
blunder—he krew where his thoughts had ‘been
when he made up the prescription. He had not a
word to say for himself.

Mr. Isaacs, almost as vexed as Mr. Osborne, made
up the prescription, vowing with himself that he
never would put another into Williams's hands.
Mr. Osborne wrote the best apology he could to the
physician, and Williams sat all the morning reading
Massinger's plays.

 

CHAPTER VI.
DEEPER AND DEEPER.

Tue whole town talked of nothing but the players.
One half the inhabitants sided with the clergyman,
the other half with Mr. Maxwell’s company. The
theatrical party was headed by the family of the
lawyer with whom was Tom Bassett; and this same
lawyer not only bespoke a play, but talked of giving
a supper to the principal performers.

_ The lawyer's daughters thought of nothing but
private theatricals ; and Tom Bassett, who was hand
and glove with half the theatrical staff, as well as
desperately in love with the prima donna, borrowed
the actors’ own copies of plays, and was au fait in
all that appertained to theatrical life.

On the other hand, among the persons most active
on the side of the clergyman, were the good Miss
Kendricks. It was as good as a sermon to hear
Miss Joanna talk ; she really was more effective than