CHAPTER XXV.
CONCERNING A YOUNG LADY PROM LONDON, WHO JOINS THE COMPANY, AND AN ELDERLY ADMIRER WHO FOLLOWS IN HER TRAIN; WITH AN AFFECTING CEREMONY CONSEQUENT ON THEIR ARRIVAL.
The new piece being a decided hit, was announced for every evening of performance until further notice, and the evenings when the theatre was closed, were reduced from three in the week to two. Nor were these the only tokens of extraordinary success; for on the succeeding Saturday Nicholas received, by favour of the indefatigable Mrs. Grudden, no less a sum than thirty shillings; besides which substantial reward, he enjoyed considerable fame and honour, having a presentation copy of Mr. Curdles pamphlet forwarded to the theatre, with that gentleman's own autograph (in itself an inestimable treasure) on the fly-leaf, accompanied with a note, containing many expressions of approval, and an unsolicited assurance that Mr. Curdle would be very happy to read Shakspeare to him for three hours every morning before breakfast during his stay in the town.
"I've got another novelty, Johnson," said Mr. Crummles one morning in great glee.
"What's that?" rejoined Nicholas. "The pony?"
"No, no, we never come to the pony till everything else has failed," said Mr. Crummies. "I don't think we shall come to the pony at all this season. No, no, not the pony."
"A boy phenomenon, perhaps?" suggested Nicholas.
"There is only one phenomenon, Sir," replied Mr. Crummles impressively, "and that's a girl."
"Very true," said Nicholas. "I beg your pardon. Then I don't know what it is, I am sure."
"What should you say to a young lady from London?" inquired Mr. Crummles. "Miss So-and-so, of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane?"
"I should say she would look very well in the bills," said Nicholas.
"You're about right there," said Mr. Crummies; "and if you had said she would look very well upon the stage too, you wouldn't have been far out. Look here; what do you think of that?"
With this inquiry Mr. Crummies severally unfolded a red poster, and a blue poster, and a yellow poster, at the top of each of which public notification was incsribed in enormous characters—"First appearance of the unrivalled Miss Petowker, of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane!"
"Dear me!" said Nicholas, "I know that lady."
"Then you are acquainted with as much talent as was ever compressed into one young person's body," retorted Mr. Crummles, rolling up the bills again; "that is, talent of a certain sort—of a certain sort. ’The Blood Drinker,'" added Mr. Crummies with a prophetic sigh, "’The Blood Drinker' will die with that girl; and she's the only sylph
