Happily for him, a love of the theatre is so general, an itch for
acting so strong among young people, that he could hardly out-talk the
interest of his hearers. From the first casting of the parts to the
epilogue it was all bewitching, and there were few who did not wish to
have been a party concerned, or would have hesitated to try their
skill. The play had been Lovers' Vows, and Mr. Yates was to have been
Count Cassel. "A trifling part," said he, "and not at all to my taste,
and such a one as I certainly would not accept again; but I was
determined to make no difficulties. Lord Ravenshaw and the duke had
appropriated the only two characters worth playing before I reached
Ecclesford; and though Lord Ravenshaw offered to resign his to me, it
was impossible to take it, you know. I was sorry for him that he
should have so mistaken his powers, for he was no more equal to the
Baron--a little man with a weak voice, always hoarse after the first
ten minutes. It must have injured the piece materially; but I was
resolved to make no difficulties. Sir Henry thought the duke not equal
to Frederick, but that was because Sir Henry wanted the part himself;
whereas it was certainly in the best hands of the two. I was surprised
to see Sir Henry such a stick. Luckily the strength of the piece did
not depend upon him. Our Agatha was inimitable, and the duke was
thought very great by many. And upon the whole, it would certainly
have gone off wonderfully."