'
The audience applauded him vigorously when he came to the end of his
speech, but there was an instantaneous cry of 'hush!' when Prospero
disclosed the lovers. It was really very pretty. Miranda wore a
loose, simple, white robe, and her wonderful hair was partly twisted
into a knot, and partly strayed down to her waist. The dialogue
between the two was spoken with much dramatic feeling, and when
Ferdinand came to the lines -
'Sir, she is mortal,
But by immortal Providence she's mine,'
old Boston, a worthy and wealthy farmer, who sat next to Mrs Hopgood,
cried out 'hear, hear!' but was instantly suppressed.
He put his head down behind the people in front of him, rubbed his
knees, grinned, and then turned to Mrs Hopgood, whom he knew, and
whispered, with his hand to his mouth, -
'And a precious lucky chap he is.'
Mrs Hopgood watched intently, and when Gonzalo invoked the gods to
drop a blessed crown on the couple, and the applause was renewed, and
Boston again cried 'hear, hear!' without fear of check, she did not
applaud, for something told her that behind this stage show a drama
was being played of far more serious importance.
The curtain fell, but there were loud calls for the performers. It
rose, and they presented themselves, Alonso still holding the hands
of the happy pair. The cheering now was vociferous, more
particularly when a wreath was flung at the feet of the young
princess, and Ferdinand, stooping, placed it on her head.
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