human
Alone, he groaned,
gpt
RANK IS BUT THE GUINEA'S STAMP.
human
And what does our Diogenes find to say? said Mrs. Gower, gaily, as on the night of the 9th November she gathered a few friends to supper, after an evening at the Grand Opera House.
gpt
Come, Mr. Dale, like a good man, confess that Mrs. Langtry is worth letting your tub go to staves for.
human
Well, on the whole, yes. I think she has improved.
gpt
Improved! but I suppose one must be content with even such admission from you.
human
But, my dear lady, when a man has seen the best that London, Paris, and New York can put on their theatre boards, what you in Canada offer is merely _pour passez le temp_.
gpt
Yes, I suppose one grows to feel like that; but I am glad I have yet a few sights to see, if, by seeing everything, one loses one's zest for anything.
human
But you surely do not admire her choice of plays?
gpt
No; but I do really deem her a born actress, as clever as she is charming.
human
One could easily see, Mrs. Gower, that you got the worth of your ticket in emotional feeling, said Mr. Smyth, laughingly,
gpt
Malevolent wretch! a thrill of horror did run through me, as well as of pity for his unfortunate victim.
human
My feelings are not so easily acted upon, said Mrs. Dale.
gpt
I was very coolly watching to see if she could disentangle herself from the villain's clutches, and her arms from her odious lace sleeves.
human
The latter absorbed me, said lively Mrs. Smyth;
gpt
Yes, I must trouble you for some more oysters, Mr. Dale; 'nerve tissue is expensive,'
human
Her gowns, her robings, were in perfect taste,
gpt
Yes, Oscar Wilde would have breathed a sigh of satisfaction,
human
Speaking of our color-blending pet, said Mrs. Dale,
gpt
Just fancy a thing like that living in our stirring times, and calling itself a man, said Dale, contemptuously;
human
Poor fellow! he would feel badly had the Communists the control of his wardrobe,
gpt
His would be a capital garb for a surveyor, said Mrs. Smyth;
human
I wish Will would adopt it.
gpt
Then would surveyors be on the increase when his measure would be taken,
human
Lilian has vivid recollections of my last home-coming, when I was a mass of sticky York mud to my knees,
gpt
I remember, Dale, you were disgusted at the Emma-Juch concert by reason of large hats and small chatter, said Buckingham.
human
What did you think of the manner of the audience to-night?
gpt
I think that, on the whole, when one considers the antecedents of the moneyed people of Toronto, that they behaved themselves better, showed more consideration for the feelings of others, in fact, ignored their fine feathers--remembering that they were not the only occupants of the theatre--better than at any other gathering of 'beauty and fashion' (in newspaper parlance), that I have made one at.
human
Yes; so I thought, said Buckingham;
gpt
I wish some star in the concert world would have the courage to insert after her name, no encore, said Mrs. Gower,
human
Will did an awfully daring thing at the Carreno-Juch concert, said Mrs. Smyth, eagerly;
gpt
My dear, said her friend, in mock reproof;
human
Well, Will fidgetted, and they chattered across each other in audible remarks, on acquaintances in the audience, on a luncheon they were to give, as to the war-paint of a lady friend who had been presented to Queen Victoria, when I, the meanest of her subjects (I use the words figuratively, as Burdette says), pitied royalty; but the climax was reached when in Raff's 'Ever of Thee,' a particular favorite of Will's, the 'unruly member' was heard with renewed vigor, when this husband of mine rose in his might, and to his feet, saying audibly, 'Come, let us try if the low price seats hold better-bred people.'
gpt
Bravo! bravo!
human
Very well put, said Dale;
gpt
Very true, said Mrs. Gower;
human
I have frequently thought at some of our large social gatherings, that it is a pity one's blood cannot be analyzed instead of one's gown.
gpt
What a resurrection there would be, said Buckingham;
human
A sympathetic artiste must feel any want of oneness in her audience, said Mrs. Dale;
gpt
I should throw my roll of music at them and retire.
human
At which, dear, they would only give their unwearied cry of 'encore,' said her hostess;
gpt
Yes; did he please you?
human
Extremely; both in his sermonizing and in his lecture on George Whitefield; he is eloquent, and his imagery and figurative language charmed me.
gpt
Indeed; in that case I regret to have missed him. Did you hear him, Dale?
human
Yes, and though I regret the not being at one with Mrs. Gower in all things, he said, smilingly,
gpt
Pleased you not! echoed his hostess;
human
But how so, Dale? one would almost make sure of finding in him a rather superior excellence, knowing that he holds a pulpit in such a city as your London.
gpt
Granted, Buckingham; but not only at London, but over the whole Christianized world, mistakes are to be found in the pulpit.
human
Oh, no, Dale, I cannot go with you; 'tis in the pew that mistakes exist.
gpt
I go with you there, Buckingham, he replied, wilfully misunderstanding him;
human
Mr. Dale, asked Mrs. Gower,
gpt
I do; for instance, now, here is a real enjoyment; but, pray, do not dub me a critic.
human
I fear I must in some of your moods; but see, the mere word, or the silvery chimes of midnight, are lending wings to your wife, and Mrs. Smyth: they are deserting us. Are you examining the heavens, dear?
gpt
Look quick, Mrs. Gower, he won't see you if you peer through the slats; and how awful! in among the bushes, out in that torrent of rain, there is a----
human
Don't alarm Mrs. Gower, said Buckingham, quietly, who had neared them unnoticed;
gpt
Good night, Mrs. Gower, called Smyth, from the hall;
human
Mr. Dale is too fascinating, laughed his wife.
gpt
Good night, Elaine; Will thinks he hears baby crying, or he would not stir.
human
Nice little baby, don't get in a fury 'cause mamma's gone to a play at the theatre,
gpt
Did you _really_ see anyone, Mrs. Dale?
human
I really did; the--but hush, she returns.
gpt
You look pale, Mrs. Gower, he said, kindly,
human
Oh, no, I thank you, not for worlds, she said, nervously; but recovering herself, added,
gpt
Clouds sometimes precede a storm.
human
But not always, she says, with a sudden resolve,
gpt
Indeed, I shall with pleasure, she said, eagerly, adding, in mock condescension,
human
Good night, Mr. Dale.
gpt
What do you mean, Ella; our cab is here?
human
I am going to stay with Mrs. Gower, Henry, so good night, dear; an extra blanket and night-cap must be my substitute,
gpt
Good night, Mr. Dale; you are keeping up your character for generosity,
human
Come along, Dale, said Buckingham, glad of the arrangement;
gpt
I shall be with you as far as the Rossin House.
human
Oh, Henry, called his wife, as he was entering the cab,
gpt
No more, dear, please; you should have given it to me in manuscript form, I fear I shall not remember it.
human
Poor Capt. Cuttle, when found make a note on,
gpt
I'll coach him,
human
Etc., etc., etc.,