, 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. »I thought
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
