"
"Oh what shall I say?" cried our new hero.
"Say--'Devastating Monster! my arm is mortal, and my sword was forged
by human fingers, but this shield is invincible as ----'"
"Second Prince," called Charles impatiently, and Mr. Clinton was
hustled on.
He was greeted with loud applause. He said afterwards that this put
his part out of his head, that Alice had told him wrong, and that the
shield was too small for him.
As a matter of fact he hammered and stammered and got himself and the
piece into such confusion, that Philip lost patience as he lay
awaiting his cue. With a fierce bellow he emerged from his cask, and
roaring, "Avaunt, knight of the invincible shield and craven heart!"
he crossed the stage with the full clatter of his canvas joints, and
chased Mr. Clinton off at the left centre.
Once behind the scenes, he refused to go on again. He said that he had
never played without a proper part at his uncle's in Dublin, and
thought our plan quite a mistake. Besides which, he had got toothache,
and preferred to join the audience, which he did, and the play went on
without him.
I was acting as stage-manager in the intervals of my part, when I
noticed Mr. Clinton (not the ex-Prince, but his father, the surgeon)
get up, and hastily leave his place among the spectators.
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