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.' "Ay, my dear Hymen," Mr.Basket wrung the Major's hand with genuine feeling, "you have been a long time putting off this visit; but, now we have you, I promise we don't let you go in a hurry.

We will toast old days; we will go visit the play together as of old--yes, this very night.

For, as luck will have it, the stock company at the Theatre Royal makes way to-night--for whom think you?
No less a man than Orlando B.Sturge, and in his great part of Tom Taffrail in _Love Between Decks; or, The Triumph of Constancy_; a week's special engagement with his own London company in honour of the Duke of Clarence, who is paying us a visit just now at Admiralty House." "Sturge ?" echoed the Major, doubtfully.
"Good heavens, my dear fellow, don't tell me you haven't heard of him! Really, now, really, you bury yourself--believe me, you do.
Why, for nautical parts, the stage hasn't his equal; and a voice, they tell me, like Incledon's in his prime! Mrs.Basket and I have reserved seats, and, now I come to think of it, we had best step down to the theatre before dining, book yours, and arrange it so that we sit in a row.