ROMANCE AND REALITY.
139
"I see but one difficulty—who is to take the bull by the horns?"
"Oh, somebody would be found to run 'the glorious risk.' I despair of nothing now-a-days."
"In such a mood men credit miracles," said Mrs. Sullivan.
"I," replied the traveller, "am just come from witnessing one. Do you remember how your friend S
's words were like the friar's steps in Romeo and Juliet? He says:'How oft to-night
Have my old feet stumbled;'
and if he did get out six words, seven were unintelligible. He now speaks as fluently and as unaffectedly as myself. I cannot say more."
"What do you mean?"
"Simply that S
, in utter despair at being thus disabled from enlightening his audience, betook himself to Mr. Jones, who has undeniably demonstrated that he possesses the gift of tongues.""I should like to see S
: he will be so gloriously theatrical.""You will be disappointed in this charitable expectation. Jones has vanquished all his