This brought the play on to
Act II, which consisted mainly of situations arising out of the
indiscriminate use of doors and windows for entrances and exits. The
bailiff's mother-in-law (Mrs Wopples) appears in this act, and,
being in want of a new dress, takes the cruet stand to her 'uncle'
and pawns it; so Act II ends with a general onslaught of the decayed
family on Mrs Wopples.
Then the orchestra played the 'Wopples' Waltz', dedicated to Mr
Theodore Wopples by Mr Handel Wopples, and during the performance of
this Mr Villiers walked into the theatre. He was a little pale, as
was only natural after such an adventure as he had been engaged in,
but otherwise seemed all right. He walked up to the first row of the
stalls, and took his seat beside a young man of about twenty-five,
who was evidently much amused at the performance.
'Hullo, Villiers!' said this young gentleman, turning round to the
new arrival, 'what d'ye think of the play?'
'Only just got in,' returned Mr Villiers, sulkily, looking at his
programme. 'Any good?' in a more amiable tone.
'Well, not bad,' returned the other, pulling up his collar; 'I've
seen it in Melbourne, you know--the original, I mean; this is a very
second-hand affair.'
Mr Villiers nodded, and became absorbed in his programme; so, seeing
he was disinclined for more conversation, the young gentleman turned
his attention to the 'Wopples Waltz', which was now being played
fast and furiously by the indefatigable orchestra of two.
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