CHAPTER X.—(Continued). THE OPENING OF THE BAUMBOROUGH THEATRE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2215, 18 September 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER X.— (Continued). THE OPENING OF THE BAUMBOROUGH THEATRE.

Phil Soames was a sensible young* man, and did not take all he heard for Gospel, but he could not but recall his labfc interview with Bessie, and wonder to him«elf was this her secret. It was quite possible she might view the stain upon her birth in such exaggerated fashion as to deem it a bar to entering a respectable family as a daughter. It was hard to believe that a bright, handsome, straightforward girl such as Bessie Hyde could have any shameful story of her own to tell, but that she might have been brought up to consider her illegitimacy placed her under a ban was easy of understanding. Phil >Soames went grimly about his work in a manner very differently from his wont; he stuck to it, if anything, more pertinaciously than ever, but the spring seemed out of him ; ho laboured moie like a machine, very different from the gay light-hearted manner that was habitual to him- His love for Bessie Hyde was no passing fancy, and Mr Philip Soames was very tenacious about what he took in hand, be it what it might. But he felt powerless in this instance. He could not discover what he had to combat : ualess he could prevail upon Miss Hyde to tell lira her story he was helpless. Mr Fossdyke, too, after his absence from home, found so many things that required hia attention that he was deeply immersed in business, and so never found time somehow to see Phil Soames and confide to him Bessie's history. The girl constantly wondered whether he had done bo, but as may be easily understood was shy of reminding him of her conversation. As for Mrs Fossdyke, she had studiously avoided all reference to delicate subjects since the scene in the rosery, aud though her husband not only recognised, but had told her so, how well she had done her wifely duty in confronting all the scandal Mr Totterdell had set rolling, yet he had been no more communicative to her than to Phil Soames. So that relations in the Dyke family still lacked confidence and cordiality all round in great measure. One thing specially noticeable, as many remembered afterwards, was that John Fossdyke seemed out of spirits and some--what irritable all the time. And yet one <of the schemes he had set his heart on had arrived at maturity, for the Baumborough Theatre was a thing accomplished, and the opening night, under the patronage of the Mayor and Municipal Council, announced in gigantic posters all through the length and breadth of the town. If Baumborough had doubted whether it wanted a theatre at one time, it had no -sort of uncertainty but that was one of its requirements now, in fact Baumborough was all agog for the eventful evening, and quite marvelled how it had managed to endure life so long without a dramatic temple. Everybody was going, not only the upper social stratum, but all the tradespeople and the shopmen had announced their intention of being prfg^nt. A lessee of substance had been procure], and he had made satisfactory ana.^o jnents with an excellent provincial com-

pany to take Buumborough in the circuit, and the theatre was accordingly annouueed to open with a Robert&onian comedy. It was curiously illustrative of the old axiom that he who bears the brunt of the battle does not always get the credit of winning the Fight, for the bijrger »>alf of Baumborongh were under a hazy impression that the erection of the theatre was clue chiefly to the unflagging exertions of Mr Totterdell. It was true he told everyone so ; and thero is no doubt if you persistently tell people a consistent story of yourself the majority will in the end belipve you. He had been the bane of the contractor's life with his endless questions and impossible suggestions, for he had been perpetually in aud out all the time the building was iv haud, while John Fossdyke, without whom the thing never would have come to pans, had seldom gone near it. Mr Totterdell was now buzzing about like a hilarious bluebottle, rubbing his hands and saying he had devoted a good deal of time to it, to say nothing of taking a good deal of trouble, but he did think — yes, he might venture to say, Baumborough would pronounce it a very bright, pretty littlo house when they saw it. And people believed this old imposter, who in reality had vexed the souls of those entrusted with the work, and even in some cases slightly hindered it. But the evening came, and the Market Place of Baumborough resounded with the rattle of wheels; vehicles of all descriptions rattled over the stones, private carriages from round about and the suburbs of the town, hack flies hired from the principal inn*, even the hotel omnibusses were in requisition ; and the ladies of Baumborough, in silk and satin, flounce and furbelow, thronged into the stalls and boxes. It was a full house, stalls, pit, dre^s circle, upper boxes and callery were crowded, and during the overture Baumborougli had plenty to do in admiring the pretty little theatre it I had acquired, and in exchanging salutes. The Mayor was there with all his family, beaming in all the glory of a stage box. Tl.e Town Council generally were scattered about, including not only Mr Totterdell, more than ever convinced that his gaily lighted festive amphitheatre was all his creation, but even Stauger, its whilom fierce opponent; but Stanger, the representative of Pickleton Ward, was a sound practical man, who said he combatted theories but always accepted accomplished facts. John Fossdyke, with his wife and Miss Hyde, were there in the stage box opposite the Mayor's. Mr Philip Soames was there, moodily meditating whether it would be out of place to go round between the acts and say " how do you do " to Mrs Fossdyke. Several of the clergy were there who, without being engaged in that incongruous absurdity, " the stage and church siu'ld," could see no harm in the innocent amusement the English stage as a mle affords. There are plenty of extremei^-ts of all creeds in these days, alas ! who, by their puritanical dogmas, are teaching meu rapidly 1 to profess no creed at all, and cannot be maie to see the harm done to all religion by their vapid intolorance. The certain rises on that old favourite play "Ours," and the audience greet the garden scene at once with a goodhumoured burst of applause. A play that always goes, if played, and yet makes us sometimes wouder why it hhould ; the grand effect of the second act culminating in a lady making a pudding in the third. It certainly was Mrs Bancroft who was the original compounder of that pudding, and that goes for a good deal. Her business has become, of course, traditional. The piece went as well as ever, the company were capable, ■inti the audience were delighted. .Seated next to Mr Totterdell was a dark complexioned gentleman, attired in the oithodox style who exercised that gentleman immensely. He was apparently a stranger, at all events Mr Fotterdell had never seen him before, and any enigna of this kind had the mystenonB fascination that double aciosti(S have upon some people. 'Monstrous pretty little theatre.' remarked the stranger at the end of the first act. 4 I suppose all your leading notables are here to-night — the Mayor that, I presume, judging by his chain of office, and God bless me' — and here the stranger suddenly paused, and looked rapidly round in another direction than the stage, inquired who that gentleman was in an upper box. 1 That, sir, is a brother rce nber of mine on the cnimoil. Mr Brocklebank, perhaps next to myself, the chief promoter of the theatre you have done me the honour to admire. It coKt me a good deal of time and trouble, there were prejudices to be overcome, but tonight's triumph repays me for all. My name, sir, is Totterdell — a name you will find tolerably well-known in Baumborough. May I ask to whom I have the pleasure of speaking ?' 'My name! Ah, yes! my name ! My name is Viator, and 1 am staying in the neighbourhood.' • Vyater — a very singular name ; sounds as if you wera of foreign extraction.' 4 Yes, of what is designated nomad Italian origin, I fancy ; but who is the gentleman in the 0. P. stage box ?' 1 Might I ask what you mean by that ?' enquired Totterdell. ' Why, you told me you mainly got up the theatre, so I naturally supposed you understand theatrical slang. The 0. P. side means opposite the prompt bide, and the prompter is always on the stage left.' ' Ah, you mean in the box opposite the Mayor — that is John Fossdyke, our town clerk. A buvoptious bad-tempered man that I intend to have turned out of place before long. He don't know this place, ' continued Totterdell, with increasing acerbity. 'He does not seem to understand, sir, that he is the servant of the council, and when servants don't comprehend their situations we discharge them,' and when Mr Totterdell got so earnest in his language, a reproving hush ran round the adjacent pit and stalls for the curtain had just risen on the second act. 4 John Fossdyke,' said the stranger, in a low tone, 4C Would you mind spelling it for me f ' Mr Totterdell in a much subdued voice at once complied with the request. 'Grand dramatic effect that,' observed the stranger, as the curtain fell on the measured tramp of their soldiery on their way to the East, at the conclasion of the second act. 4< Mr Fossdyke been settled long in Baumburough ?' 4 Gracious, yes, many years, but what makes you interested about that ?' 4 Can hardly say that,' replied the stranger, with much nonchalance. ' I have some idea I knew a Fossdyke somewhat early in life. Bless you, I can't even recollect where. School with him, perhaps. Can't say where I met him, exactly; not that I mean to say that your Baumborough Fossdyke is my Fossdyke. Not even sure whether mine was a Fossdyke or a Mossdyke. Met him on business, perhaps " 1 Just so, quite likely. What did you say your business was, MrVator? 1 ' enquired Mr Totterdell, eagerly. 4 1 don't know that I said anything about my business,' answered the other wirh an amused smile. ' You seem to know a good d^al about theatricals. Are you connected with the profession in any way ?' ' Well, I might be, and then again I might be connected with coals," rejoined tlu. . tranger Liuguing. •' Yes, Ido know a little about theatricals ; considering I

dabble in then a good deal, I ought to. You've gratified my curiosity so I'll gratify yours. My business here was to see your new theatre and calculate whether I could get anything out of it on some future occasion." • Ami you're much gratified, of course ?' remarked Totterdell pompously. 'Hum! If I've seen 'Ours' once I should think I've seen it thirty times. It's done well here, but I've seen it done better. You've a big house to-night, but ifyon'ro a fisherman you'll understand what I mean when I say this is the first cast of the net in a new swim. It's a chance whether you will catch as many fish again. No, I've reckoned you up, you're worth a fifty pound note for a two days' speck, might run to a little more.' •Nonsense, sir. Why Hook forward to a regular theatre, open nearly all the year round.' ' Bosh," responded the stranger blandly, if not politely. " Your lessee's no such fool as that ; lie knows if he tried that game the shutters *ould be up for good after the first year. Stock companies, as a rule, my good sir, are among the institutions of the past.' ' Bosh !' to a Town Councillor. Mr Totterdell felt this was revolutionary, an upheaval of things, prophetic of woe to the nation. The word bosh might possibly be used by one town councillor to another. The great Stanger, indeed, upon one memorable occasion, had recourse to the somewhat offensive word, but it was not to be permitted of the outside public. However, before he could clothe the rebuke that rose to his lips in robes of sufficient severity, the curtain rose upon the third act. 'Now, my friend,' said the unabashed stranger, 'you'll understand there's a good deal in the making of a pudding. If it wasn't cleverly compounded this act wouldn't pull through.' Philip Soames, after a stern argument with himself, had at last determined that conmion politeness required that he should go round and pay his respects to Mrs Fossdyke. After chatting a bit with that lady and her husband, he lingered a little at the back of the box witli Miss Hyde. 'Am I to take your answer of the other day as final, Bessie?' he whispered. ' I am afraid • so, Philip,' she replied, softly. ' Unless, indeed,— but that, I fancy, is unlikely.' 'Unless what?' he asked, brusquely. 'Unless Mr Fossdyke speaks to you about me. If he should you will at all events know why I teel I am bound in justice to yourself, Philip, to say no when I would gladly say yes. I make no secret that I love you, but I cannot marry you.' ' Mr Fossdyke speak to me ?' he replied. ' What about ? Is it likely ?' 'No ; I don't know ; I should think not. Please don't ask me anything more, Philip.' ' I won't now, nor will I till I have had a talk with Mr Fossdyke ; if he does not speak to me I mean to speak to him, Bessie. Good night,' and, having pressed her hand warmly, Philip Soames withdrew to witness the third act of ' Ours.' John Fossdyke looked gloomily on at this, as indeed he had at the whole representation. Considering how energetic he had been in promoting the erection of the building, it was singular how little interest he took in the play. He never left his box, and said but little to either his wife or Bessie ; but gazed at the stage in a moody, pre-occupied fashion, as a man might who was there from a sense of duty, but who, far from being either interested or amused, was scarce conscious of the pageant passing before his eyes. More than once the stranger eyed him keenly, and at last said in a low voice — 'I suppose Mr Foss — Fossdyke thinks from his official position that he's bound to attend when the Mayor and Council patronise the show, or else he gives me the idea of rather disapproving of theatricals, or at all events being somew hat bored with them.' 'There you make a mistake,' returned Totterdell. 'He was one of the advocates of the scheme, but he turned out a bit of a humbug,' ' How so V 'Why, he said he understood a good deal about theatricals, but the minute the thing was in hand and fairly began, he never came near the place. No, sir, the whole superintending of the building was left to me, and a pretty life I led the contractors, I can tell you.' In justice to Mr Totterdell it must be admitted that the contractors would quite have subscribed to this opinion. 4 Oh, they want looking after, those fellows,' rejoined the stranger, carelessly. 'Fossdyke any family? Is that daughter, for instance, in the box with him ?' ' No, that's Miss Hyde ; a mystery, no one in Baumborough knows who she is, and when I say she is not his daughter she may be. She may be anybody, indeed.' ' Quite so. Nice looking girl, anyhow,' replied the stranger. 4 She's a very flippant youn? woman,' retorted Totterdell quickly, who had his suspicions that Bessie sometimes rather laughed at him. ' Lor !' he continued, 'it quite makes one shiver,' as the simulated whistle of the wild Cremean snowstorm from the stage smote upon their ear, and Sergeant Brown enters the hut accompanied by a rush of snowflakes. * Great effect from a well-toned whistle and a winnowing machine at the wing, isn tit ? So they don't know who Miss Hyde is, eh ?' No. You seem to take rather an interest in the Fossdyke family, Mr Vyater. By the bye, how do you spell your name?' ' Depends upon what branch of the family you belong to,' rejoined the stranger. "As a speller I'm always variable ; it isn't my strong point.' ' And you are stopping ?' asked Mr Totterdell. 1 Bless you, I hope not. I'm like an eight days' clock, I never stop unless I'm run down. I'm always on the move, here, there, and everywhere. ' I'm always on the move, sir,' as the old song says.' Mr Totterdell said no more ; it had suddenly occurred to him that this stranger was as flippant as Miss Hyde, and no more disposed to give an account of himself. Mr Totterdell distrusted people who were not prepared to unfold their lives and pursuits, at all events so far as he was concerned, and he both feared and reprobated that favourite pastime of the present day called * chaff.' He was conscious of much inability to take part in that amusement, and that when cast amongst it he was like the blind man in the game of blind man's buff, the recipient of many tweaks, buffets, and pinches, and with uo recollection of having caught any one. The comedy came to a conclusion amidst tumultuous applause, all the performers were " called," and then came a pause before an after piece, during which the Mayor and a few of the leading citizens went behind the scones to congratulate the manager. It was not to be supposed that fussy, pompous Mr Totterdell, who had finally convinced himself that he was the founder of the Theatre Royal, Baumborough, would neglect this ceremony. But although he had haunted the building in its growth, Mr Totterdell was a novice behind the scenes. He lose his way, got his toes trod on by carpenters and sceneshifters, and finally was brought up "all stauding" in speechless astonishment at coming across the flippant stranger

engaged in conversation with a lady whom he at once recognised as the pourtrayer of 'Mary Netley " in the comedy. "If you are looking for the manager's room it's there to the left. Here, one of you fellows, just show this gentleman to Mr Sampson's room, will you please,' said the stranger airily. 'Who is he? Wl.o the devil is he?' muttered Tottcrdoll, as he followed his guide. • I'll ask Sampson : he's sure to know.' But in that Mr Totterdell was mistaken, the manager had a somewhat numerous levee, and consequently but little time to give to any one individual. He could naturally give no answer as to who a man was whom he didn't see, and had very insufficient time to have described to him. Mr Totterdell emerged from Mr Sampson's sanctum no whit the wiser, only to find the stranger still discourcing volubly with some other members of the company, and the old gentleman's curiosity began to attain white heat concerning whom he might be. John Fossdyke had not been amongst those who had "gone round" to congratulate Mr Sampson, and to drink success to the Baumborough Theatre, for the champagne corks were flying in the manager's room ; that wine as is wellknown being rather a speciality of all theatrical enterprises. The Town Clerk certainly justified the stranger's criticism, and looked as if, though some sense of duty constrained him to be there, his thoughts were miles away. He looked round the house very little, and gazed at the stage in a dreary abstracted manner that attracted his wife's attention. She could not undei stand her restless, energetic husband in this absent and apathetic state, and at last said to him. 'Are you ill, John ? If ao, perhaps we had better go home at once.' • No, nothing is the matter. I have a bit of a headache, but I will see it out. We must, Mary, the carriage won't turn up till the performance is over, remember. In the meantime the stranger had once more resumed his seat at Mr Totterdell's side, and that gentleman determined once more to try a little cross-examination. 'You seem tolerably at home behind the scenes, sir,' he remarked. • Yes,' rejoined the other, carelessly, ' the back of the floats is no novelty to me ; but,' he continued, laughing, "considering you built the theatre it struck me you weren't very good at finding your way about ; you looked regularly dumbfoozled.' Mr Totterdell swelled like an outraged turkey-cock. Was this tjhe way to address a town councillor? And he had given the stranger clearly to understand that he held that dignified office. He did not exactly know whether to take dumbfoozled as complimentary. 4 Well, I can't afford to see this farce out, good though it is, and as he spoke the stranger rose, drew a silk muffler out of the pocket of his overcoat, which had been hanging over the back of his stall, and as he did so, a piece of paper, evidently drawn out with the muffier, fluttered to the ground. Mr Totterdell was fascinated ; his eye had caught the fall of the paper ; could he but obtain it he would very likely get at what he was so anxious to know, namely, who the stranger was. It was a blank envelope, that much Mr Totterdell could see already. The stranger was most provokingly deliberate about muffling his throat and getting into his overcoat ; but at last, all unconscious of his loss, he bade Mr Totterdell a courteous good night and left the theatre. Mr Totterdell waited a few minutes, to be quite sure of his departure, gazed furtively around to see if lie was observed ; no, all eyes were on the stage, and then pounced upon the envelope. It was open and unaddressed, and from the interior Mr fotterdell extracted a theatrical bill. It was the programme ot the Syringia Music Hall ; lessee, Mr James Foxborough ; and once again Mr Totterdell felt that the acquisition of knowledge of our fellows is sometimes an arduous and difficult pursuit. But the curtain comes down at last amidst a storm of applause, in response to which it again rises, and " God save the Queen " is sung by the whole company. This was hardly a success, the orchestra and the leading lady who took the solos not being altogether in accord about the key, while the company generally seemed each to have their own versions of the National Anthem and adhere to it with a contemputuous disregard of their companions. Still, as the audience made their w.iy to their respective homes, they agreed th.tt the Biumborough Theatre was a great success. Mr Totterdell only felt discontented. The mysterious stranger weighed upon his mind. Who the deuce was he ? The music hall bill that Mr Totterdell had so eagerly pounced upon even that gentleman was fain to confess told nothing ; people of all classes went to such places of amusement, and though Mr Totterdell had never heard of the particular hail in question, he made no doubt that it was much of a muchness with othor places of that kind. No, there was nothing to be made out of that, yet Mr Totterdell literally yearned to know who the stranger might be. Breakfast at Dyke was at an early hour, and the post-bag generally arrived in the middle of that meal. John Fossdyke opened it as usual next morning, and distributed the letters, and then began to run leisurely through his own. Suddenly an ejaculation escaped him, and it was plain to Bessie and Mrs Fossdyke, who looked towards him at the half cry, that the letter he was reading moved him terribly. For a moment his face blanched to his very lips, and his mouth quivered — the hand that held the letter shook, and Mrs Fossdyke, springing from her chair, exclaimed ' ' Good heavens ! John, what is the matter ?' The Town Clerk mastered himself by a fuipreme effort, and rejoined in husky tones ' Nothing, Mary, nothing now ; please don't fidget.' • But you have heard bad news of some sort !' ' Yes, I have heard bad news. Now, do sit down and don't make a fuss. I must go over to Banbury this afternoon, and may not be back, in fact, shall not probably get back to-night.' ' But, John, it's only an hour's rail to Banbury; surely you can get through your business and come home by the last train ? You look so ill I shall feel dreadfully uneasy if you do not come back.' Mi 39 Hyde looked anxious, although she forbore to speak. 'No, I don't think it likely I shall bo able to get baok to-night. Tell Richprds to put a few things in my bag and bring it down to the office. Good-byo, Mary ; good-bye, Bessie ; and John Fossdyke kissed his wife with unusual gravity, nud wont his way.