They are in nowise
shaken from it by the displeasure which soon shows itself in the manner of
the first and second ladies. The former is greatest in the so-called
Protean parts of the play, and is obscured somewhat by the dancing of the
latter; but she has a daughter who now comes on and sings a song. The
pensive occasion, the favorable mood of the audience, the sympathetic
attitude of the players, invite her to sing "The Maiden's Prayer," and so
we have "The Maiden's Prayer." We may be a low set, and the song may be
affected and insipid enough, but the purity of its intention touches, and
the little girl is vehemently applauded. She is such a pretty child with
her innocent face, and her artless white dress, and blue ribbons to her
waist and hair, that we will have her back again; whereupon she runs out
upon the stage, strikes up a rowdy, rowdy air, dances a shocking little
dance, and vanishes from the dismayed vision, leaving us a considerably
lower set than we were at first, and glad of our lowness.
Pages:
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293