The Argosy — page 194: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

180 , Edina. Monotony, however, does not suit young people, especially if they have been suddenly plunged into it. It did not suit Charles and Alice Raynor. Contrasting ever, as they were, the present state of enforced quiet and obscurity with the past life at Eagles’ Nest, its show, its society, its expensive luxuries, no wonder that they felt well-nigh weary unto death. At first it was almost unbearable. But they could not help themselves: s## had to be endured. Charles was worse off than Alice ; she had her school duties to occupy her in the day: he had nothing. Colonel Cockburn had not yet returned to London, and Charles told himself and his mother that he must wait for him. As the weeks went on, some relief suggested itself from this irksome dreariness—perhaps was the result of it. ‘ The alleviation was found in private theatricals. They had made the acquaintance of some neighbours, named Earle ; had become inti- mate with them. The circumstances of the two families were much alike, and perhaps this at first drew them together. Captain Earle—a post captain in the Royal Navy—had left but a slender income for his wife at his death : just enough to enable her to live ina quiet manner, and to bring*up her children inexpensively. They were gentlepeople ; and that fact went a long way with the Raynors. The young Earles—four of them—were all in their teens ; the eldest son had a post in Somerset House, the younger one went toa day-school in the neigh- bourhood, the two daughters had finished their education, and were at home. It chanced that these young people had a passion just now for private theatricals, and the Raynors caught the infection. After a performance at Mrs. Earle’s of a popular comedy, Charles and Alice Raynor got up from it wild to perform one at their own home. And probably the very eagerness, with which they entered upon and pursued it, arose out of the recent monotony of their lives. Mrs. Raynor looked grave: she did not know whether the parents of her pupils would approve of private theatricals, But her children over-ruled her objection, and she could but yield to them. She always did. They fixed upon Goldsmith’s “comedy, “She Stoops to Conquer. ” A thoroughly good play in itself. Charles procured some sixpenny copies of it, and drew his pen through any part that he considered un- suitable to present taste, which shortened the play much. He chose the part of Charles Marlowe; Alice that of Miss Hardcastle; Mrs. Earle, who liked the amusement as much as her children did, would be Mrs. Hardcastle ; her eldest daugher Constance Neville ; and the young Somerset House man Tony Lumpkin. The other characters were taken by some acquaintances of the Earles. And now, fairly launched upon this new project, the monotony of the house disappeared : for the time, they even forgot to lament after Eagles’ Nest. Dresses, gauzes, tinsel, green baize curtains, and all the rest of it, were to be lent by the Earles; so that no cost was Givolved. comicbooks.com