THE BUBBLE BuRsT. 97

choice between you. Will you, gentlemen, give me
your hands to be satisfied with my decision, and not
let ill-will arise between you in consequence, for to
one I must show a preference ?”

* We will be quite satisfied,” said they both, each
sure of the preference, and took the offered hand,
which was extended with the sweetest of smiles,

“Then, Mr, Bassett,” said she, “you take the
part. You are Parson Perfect and I Lucinda.”

Williams dashed his manuscript to the floor and
looked daggers at them both.

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CHAPTER VII,

THE BUBBLE BURST.

Tue next day the walls were placarded ; the new
comedy of The Parson in Love was to be acted with
new scenery, new actors, and endless new attractions,
The sight was gall and wormwood to Williams. He
had nevertheless in the bottom of his soul the convic-
tion that Jessie’s decision was influenced by some
feeling of advantage or propriety as regarded himself,
but still he was mortified. In the eyes of his rival
he was rejected.

The whole town talked of the new piece; a
rumour got abroad that Mr. Goodman was to be
quizzed. Some of the young actors’ pranks in the
town had caused a little scandal ; the public mind
was inclining against them. Good, sober house-
keepers found their servants’ heads turned about the
theatre ; housemaids read plays while they should
have made beds; cooks gossiped for whole hours
at the bakehouse about the handsome actors and
actresses. Everything was evidently going wrong.

K