It is easy to imagine the whole interview: the shrunken face of the Porter beaming all over with an appreciation of the honour paid her, and the Doctor full of benevolence and patronising courtesy, even to the extent of drinking cheap tea without a grumble.

After the philosopher takes his leave he will likewise take with him a vivid memory of the beldam's many wrinkles--so many, indeed, that "a picture of old age in the abstract might have been taken from her countenance."[A] [Footnote A: Dr.Johnson was pleased to avow that "Mrs.Porter in the vehemence of rage, and Mrs.Clive in the sprightliness of humour, he had never seen equalled."] Of a different calibre was Lacy Ryan, an ill-trained genius who could shine pretty well in both tragedy and comedy and from whom, according to Foote, "...

succeeding Richards took the cue, And hence his style, if not the colour, drew."[A] [Footnote A: Justice has scarcely been done to Ryan's merit.

Garrick, on going with Woodward to see his Richard with a view of being amused, owned that he was astonished at the genius and power he saw struggling to make itself felt through the burden of ill-training, uncouth gestures, and an ungraceful and slovenly figure.

He was generous enough to own that all the merit there was in his own playing of Richard he had drawn from studying this less fortunate player .-- PERCY FITZGERALD.] Like Mrs.Porter, Ryan was a youthful disciple of Betterton, and was brought to the notice of Roscius in a curious fashion.