`You were always a favourite of hers, Johnson,' said Crummles, `always were from the first. I was quite easy in my mind about you from that first day you dined with us. One that Mrs Crummles took a fancy to, was sure to turn out right. Ah! Johnson, what a woman that is!'
`I am sincerely obliged to her for her kindness in this and all other respects,' said Nicholas. `But where are you going,' that you talk about bidding goodbye?'
`Haven't you seen it in the papers?' said Crummles, with some dignity.
`No,' replied Nicholas.
`I wonder at that,' said the manager. `It was among the varieties. Ihad the paragraph here somewhere--but I don't know--oh, yes, here it is.'
So saying, Mr Crummles, after pretending that he thought he must have lost it, produced a square inch of newspaper from the pocket of the pantaloons he wore in private life (which, together with the plain clothes of several other gentlemen, lay scattered about on a kind of dresser in the room), and gave it to Nicholas to read:--`The talented Vincent Crummles, long favourably known to fame as a country manager and actor of no ordinary pretensions, is about to cross the Atlantic on a histrionic expedition. Crummles is to be accompanied, we hear, by his lady and gifted family. We know no man superior to Crummles in his particular line of character, or one who, whether as a public or private individual, could carry with him the best wishes of a larger circle of friends. Crummles is certain to succeed.'
`Here's another bit,' said Mr Crummles, handing over a still smaller scrap. `This is from the notices to correspondents, this one.'
Nicholas read it aloud. `"Philo-Dramaticus.--Crummles, the country manager and actor, cannot be more than forty-three, or forty-four years of age.
Crummles is NOT a Prussian, having been born at Chelsea."Humph!' said Nicholas, `that's an odd paragraph.'
`Very,' returned Crummles, scratching the side of his nose, and looking at Nicholas with an assumption of great unconcern. `I can't think who puts these things in. I didn't.'
Still keeping his eye on Nicholas, Mr Crummles shook his head twice or thrice with profound gravity, and remarking, that he could not for the life of him imagine how the newspapers found out the things they did, folded up the extracts and put them in his pocket again.
`I am astonished to hear this news,' said Nicholas. `Going to America!
You had no such thing in contemplation when I was with you.'
`No,' replied Crummles, `I hadn't then. The fact is that Mrs Crummles--most extraordinary woman, Johnson.' Here he broke off and whispered something in his ear.
`Oh!' said Nicholas, smiling. `The prospect of an addition to your family?'
`The seventh addition, Johnson,' returned Mr Crummles, solemnly. `Ithought such a child as the Phenomenon must have been a closer; but it seems we are to have another. She is a very remarkable woman.'
`I congratulate you,' said Nicholas, `and I hope this may prove a phenomenon too.'
`Why, it's pretty sure to be something uncommon, I suppose,' rejoined Mr Crummles. `The talent of the other three is principally in combat and serious pantomime. I should like this one to have a turn for juvenile tragedy;I understand they want something of that sort in America very much. However, we must take it as it comes. Perhaps it may have a genius for the tight-rope.
It may have any sort of genius, in short, if it takes after its mother, Johnson, for she is an universal genius; but, whatever its genius is, that genius shall be developed.'
Expressing himself after these terms, Mr Crummles put on his other eyebrow, and the calves of his legs, and then put on his legs, which were of a yellowish flesh-colour, and rather soiled about the knees, from frequent going down upon those joints, in curses, prayers, last struggles, and other strong passages.
While the ex-manager completed his toilet, he informed Nicholas that as he should have a fair start in America from the proceeds of a tolerably good engagement which he had been fortunate enough to obtain, and as he and Mrs Crummles could scarcely hope to act for ever--not being immortal, except in the breath of Fame and in a figurative sense--he had made up his mind to settle there permanently, in the hope of acquiring some land of his own which would support them in their old age, and which they could afterwards bequeath to their children. Nicholas, having highly commended the resolution, Mr Crummles went on to impart such further intelligence relative to their mutual friends as he thought might prove interesting;informing Nicholas, among other things, that Miss Snevellicci was happily married to an affluent young wax-chandler who had supplied the theatre with candles, and that Mr Lillyvick didn't dare to say his soul was his own, such was the tyrannical sway of Mrs Lillyvick, who reigned paramount and supreme.
Nicholas responded to this confidence on the part of Mr Crummles, by confiding to him his own name, situation, and prospects, and informing him, in as few general words as he could, of the circumstances which had led to their first acquaintance. After congratulating him with great heartiness on the improved state of his fortunes, Mr Crummles gave him to understand that next morning he and his were to start for Liverpool, where the vessel lay which was to carry them from the shores of England, and that if Nicholas wished to take a last adieu of Mrs Crummles, he must repair with him that night to a farewell supper, given in honour of the family at a neighbouring tavern; at which Mr Snittle Timberry would preside, while the honours of the vice-chair would be sustained by the African Swallower.
