CHAPTER VI. O kiss! which doth those ruddy gems impart, O kiss! which souls, ev'n souls, together ties How fain would I paint thee to all men's eyes; My lady is unkind perdie, Alack, why is she so ? SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. She loveth another better than me, SIR THOMAS WYATT. WHEN Master Francis was left alone by his miserly uncle in the office, as hath previously been described, he presently began to turn over the papers on the desk like one in search of something; and, as if not finding what he sought, exclaiming, "Surely I did leave it here," he the more carefully recommenced his search; but evidently with no better success. "It is gone!" cried he at last, with a countenance in which surprise seemed to mingle with regret; and then, in much perplexity, appeared to be considering the cause of the disappearance of what he had searched for. "Possibly my uncle hath taken and destroyed it, for he hath a strange disinclination to my writing verses," said the youth-and then he did seem to think again-but, as was apparent, on another subject, for his fair brow became more troubled, and his clear and most intelligent eyes had an uneasy and suspicious look. "If she doth affect that Ralph Goshawk ?" he exclaimed in a sort of doubting yet enquiring tone, as if he knew not for certain, yet wanted to know something he feared would not be desirable to learn. Then having passed some minutes in profound yet anxious reflection, he suddenly started up, saying, "But she is too good to be deceitful, he seemed at once to dismiss all his uncomfortable thoughts, and set himself to writing out some account, with a very cheerful and delighted countenance. At this he continued diligently, but ever and exclaiming, "Oh, excellent Joanna !" or, with a like enthusiasm, "Dear-sweet-exquisite creature!" or, with a countenance that did witness for his sincerity, "Oh, I do love thee infinitely!" till there came a sudden turn in his humour, and with a more thoughtful look he put down his pen, and, folding his arms, asked of himself the question" But why doth she deny me the caresses she hath so often granted?" after which he again grew uneasy (judging by the expression of his features), and it did seem as if his reflections were hurry anon ing him to very unsatisfactory conclusions; for he looked not at all pleased. "That Ralph Goshawk seemeth villanously familiar with her," said he at last, in rather a troubled voice; and for some minutes his cogitations appeared of a truly unhappy character: but the anxiety depicted upon his youthful features gradually began to disappear, a smile played about his delicate mouth, and seizing his pen again, exclaiming emphatically, "I'll be sworn she doth not countenance him!" he cheerfully resumed his labour. However, he had not been long so employed, before he started up in exceeding surprise and perturbation, crying out, "Here is a sad mistake !-alack, what have I written?" and then he read aloud from the account which he held in his hand-" To drawing up a bond for the payment of 250 caresses of good and lawful money of our sovereign lady Queen Joanna"“Indeed,” added he, taking a knife to scratch out the errors he had made, "it be well my uncle saw not this, or he would be wrath—and with good cause.' He then proceeded to make the necessary erasures very carefully, only saying with great emphasis, as if wonderfully puzzled as to how such mistakes had happened, "what could I have been thinking about?" He had but just done this when he was conscious of some one opening the door that led into the street, and looking round observed a very old looking boy in a leathern jerkin and woollen cap, such as were worn by the common people, advancing into the office, desperately intent upon picking a bone. He was somewhat short of stature, with a fair pair of bandy legs, and his face-none of the cleanest -was fat and freckled, having a noticeable huge mouth, then upon the stretch-a pug nose, and eyes squinting abominably. Without saying a word, he marched towards a corner of the room, and sat himself down on the floor, picking his bone-the which employment he varied by giving an occasional bite-which made a mark that placed beyond dispute his mouth's capacity-in a thick hunk of bread he drew from under his jerkin. Master Francis, who had regarded his visitor with considerable curiosity since his entrance, at last, seeing him with the utmost effrontery munching away without seeming to care for anything else, asked him his business. "Be you called Master Francis?" enquired the boy, without removing his eyes from the bone. "That is my name, certainly," replied the youth. "Sure on't?" asked the other, taking a monstrous piece out of the hunk of bread. "Of course I am," said Master Francis. "Have ye any witnesses ?" enquired the boy. "If you don't choose to take my word for it, you must needs let it alone, and go about your business," observed the youth sharply, though too much amused to be much offended. "Rather pepperish-do to play Hotspur," remarked his companion in an under tone, as he renewed his attack upon the bone. In a minute afterwards he enquired, somewhat authoritatively, "Who's house be this?" "It is my uncle's," replied Master Francis. "Prythee tell me his name, if he hath one." "Gregory Vellum." "His calling?" enquired the boy, still keeping his teeth employed. "'Tis that of a scrivener. But get you gone quickly, or you shall repent this intrusion, I promise you." "Rather desperate-do to play Richard the Third," said the boy. "Who are you, and what seek you here?" enquired Master Francis impatiently-" I have quite enough to plague me without your assistance." "Rather melancholy-do to play Hamlet," said the other, stripping the bone perfectly clean, and making the bread disappear rapidly. "Nay, if you do not satisfy me for this impertinence, and speedily, I will have it out of your flesh," exclaimed the youth angrily. "Rather bloody-minded-do to play Shylock," answered the boy in the same quiet tone he had used from the commencement. "I'faith but this is unbearable!" cried Master Francis, as he jumped off the stool with a thick stick in his hand belonging to his uncle that lay upon the desk, and ran to his visitor as if with a design to give him a drubbing. "Now tell me, you worthless varlet, what want you here, or your bones shall ache for it," said he, holding the stick threateningly over him. "Why, I am Gib, the call-boy," replied the boy, finishing his last mouthful, and eying the uplifted weapon with some small astonishment, "I hold the honourable office of call-boy to the Globe, on the Bankside, and earn me the handsome sum of a whole shilling aweek—and find myself out on't: but such a one for the business, the players are not like to find more than once in an age, I take it—and of this they are in no way ignorant-for Master Burbage hath said that my calling' did credit to me, and I did credit to my callingand, as I remember me, Master Green said he could swear I was born with a caul, I was so apt at it. In fact, there be none like me. It was but the other day I paid a visit to the Rose to see their call-boy. Such a miserable caitiff! the varlet's got no mouth! unless an insignificant bit of a button-hole in his face, scarce big enough to admit a peascod, be called such-the natural consequence of which is, that he hath not voice enough to frighten a cricket. Now have I something like a mouth" "Something like half a dozen made into one!" said Master Francis, seeing that the boy extended his jaws to a compass beyond conception. "And when I call," continued he, "my voice may be heard on t'other side of the river-by those who hear well enough. If it be your desire, I will favour you with a specimen of my talents." "I thank you-but I would much rather that you would favour me with your business," replied the youth, who was too much amused to put his recent threats into execution. "But besides being call-boy," added the other, unheeding what had just been said, "I am oft times required to act parts-very important parts too, I promise you." "Indeed!" cried Master Francis, regarding with a smile the droll looking object at his feet. "In what part could they possibly trust you upon the stage?" "I play the cock in Hamlet," replied the boy very gravely-at which his companion laughed heartily-" and so much to the very life, that Master Taylor saith he shall be content to pick a crow with me every time he playeth the Prince of Denmark. And Master Fletcher saith that that piece can never go off as it ought to do unless I have the cock-ing of it. Besides which I come on as one of Falstaff's regiment-make a very excellent courtier in the back ground -play one of the ghosts in Richard the Third's dream-and at all times make one of the army, of which there are at least some score of us, scene-shifters included. In fact, I should think myself greatly to be envied, were it not for one thing.' "Of what can you complain ?" asked Master Francis. "I am obliged to eat my meals where I can," replied the boy; "sometimes in Juliet's tomb-sometimes in Desdemona's bedsometimes in Richard the Third's tent-one day near the forum at Rome-another close upon the Tower of London-nay, even this very day have I been forced to munch my dinner as I came along, because I was sent to you in a hurry with a letter from Master Shakspeare." "A letter from Master Shakspeare to me!" cried Master Francis impatiently. "Why gave you not it to me before?" "Because you chose not to ask for it," said the other very quietly. "I was told to be sure and give it to the right person, so I thought I'd made proper enquiries." "Well, give it me-make haste! make haste!" exclaimed the youth. "It's like enough to be about offering to take you into the company," observed the boy, as he pulled off his cap leisurely, and gave the letter out of it, making a notable mark on each side with his greasy thumb and finger. "But my advice be-try what you can.do in the female line. You be just the age and figure for it; and we want a new woman marvellously. Our Juliet's obliged to shave twice a day, and our Lady Macbeth, getting to be a man, hath threatened to throw up her engagement because they won't allow her to let her beard grow. I can put you up to a good deal about making your points, and dying gracefully, and walking in woman's fashion for I've seen it done scores of times, I promise you-so don't lose heart on that account." As Master Francis began reading the note, the call-boy got upon his legs, shook the crumbs from his jerkin, and sidled up to him. "I pray you tell me what terms offer they?" asked he, trying to look over at the note, which he could not very well reach to do. "No terms at all," replied the other, in too good humour to be offended at the freedom his companion was taking. 66 'Ah, you see it be not every one that can get a whole shilling aweek and find himself out on't," observed the boy with an air of much importance. "But talent will always get its price." "I am glad to find that yours is so well appreciated," remarked Master Francis laughingly. "However, not to balk your inquisitiveness, which is somewhat of the greatest I must confess, this note is only to make an appointment at the playhouse to meet Master Shakspeare." "Doubtless you will then be engaged," said the call-boy. "If you find any difficulty in getting admittance-for Will Peppercorn, who keeps the door, is not so social to strangers as am I—just ask you for Gib the call-boy, though some do call me Stentor, because, as I have heard, he was a famous call-boy in ancient times; and say you are a friend of mine, you will find your entrances and your exits as easy as throwing at cocks at Shrovetide." "I thank you, Gib," replied Master Francis, scarcely able to keep a serious countenance, for the look of the boy was so comical, with his queer eyes and enormous mouth, and important swagger, that he had a great ado to refrain from laughing in his face. "This seemeth a snuggish place-how much may you get a week here?" enquired the boy very earnestly, after a careful scrutiny of the office. "That question I do not think it necessary to answer," responded the other as gravely as he could. "Well-those that have gifts should make the best use of them," drily observed Gib. "But don't despair-who knows but that you may be a call-boy some of these days-only I'm afraid you hav'n't got the very properest sort of mouth." "That I regret not, believe me," responded Master Francis with a smile. "And now I should earnestly advise you to make the best of your way back to Master Shakspeare, and tell him I will not fail of the appointment." "Ha!" replied Gib, turning on his heel and slowly proceeding to the door, tossing up the bone, with which he had not yet parted. "Now, remember you my advice-do the women, and you cannot fail of getting on; and if you want to know how to look modest and like a dainty young gentlewoman, come you to me, I can instruct you in all that sort of thing, for I've got a monstrous deal of experience that way. Indeed, Master Burbage did say that I should get advanced into the woman's parts when I was old enough, and methinks it is high time I should attempt something of the kind. It's a genteel part of the profession, according to my thinking. Master Condell did tell me he thought I could play Ophelia ravishingly." "Indeed!" exclaimed his companion, unable to refrain from laughing at the idea." "For my own part, being of an exquisite melancholy humour, I doubt not I should shine in tragedy," continued the call-boy, taking a look at Master Francis so solemnly ludicrous that it instantly did set him into a roar. "Rather humourous!" cried the boy as he opened the door, "do to play the fool:" and thereupon his mouth did spread out into a grin so far beyond all human conceit, that the other laughed till the tears ran out of his eyes. "Well," continued Gib, "though I wish you a bountiful share of good luck, in honest truth I say itexpect not to get so handsome a wage as a whole shilling a-week, and |