being the outcome of a happy, well-embodied nature.
    One incident which happened in the course of their dramatic attempts
impressed Rex as a sign of her unusual sensibility. It showed an aspect of her
nature which could not have been preconceived by any one who, like him, had only
seen her habitual fearlessness in active exercises and her high spirits in
society.
    After a good deal of rehearsing it was resolved that a select party should
be invited to Offendene to witness the performances which went with so much
satisfaction to the actors. Anna had caused a pleasant surprise; nothing could
be neater than the way in which she played her little parts; one would even have
suspected her of hiding much sly observation under her simplicity. And Mr.
Middleton answered very well by not trying to be comic. The main source of doubt
and retardation had been Gwendolen's desire to appear in her Greek dress. No
word for a charade would occur to her either waking or dreaming that suited her
purpose of getting a statuesque pose in this favourite costume. To choose a
motive from Racine was of no use, I since Rex and the others could not declaim
French verse, and improvised speeches would turn the scene into burlesque.
Besides, Mr. Gascoigne prohibited the acting of scenes from plays: he usually
protested against the notion that an amusement which was fitting for every one
else was unfitting for a clergyman; but he would not in this matter overstep the
line of decorum as drawn in that part of Wessex, which did not exclude his
sanction of the young people's acting charades in his sister-in-law's house - a
very different affair from private theatricals in the full sense of the word.
    Everybody of course was concerned to satisfy this wish of Gwendolen's, and
Rex proposed that they should wind up with a tableau in which the effect of her
majesty would not be marred by any one's speech. This pleased her thoroughly,
and the only question was the choice of the tableau.
    »Something pleasant, children, I beseech you,« said Mrs. Davilow; »I can't
have any Greek wickedness.«
    »It is no worse than Christian wickedness, mamma,« said Gwendolen, whose
mention of Rachelesque heroines had called forth that remark.
    »And less scandalous,« said Rex. »Besides, one thinks of it as all gone by
and done with. What do you say to Briseis being led away? I would be Achilles,
and you would be looking round at me - after the print we have at the Rectory.«
    »That