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Chapter 3
WhenWillettwouldmentionsomefavoriteobjectofhisboyhoodarchaisticstudiesheoftenshedbypureaccidentsuchalightasnonormalmortalcouldconceivablybeexpectedtopossess,andthedoctorshudderedasthegliballusionglidedby.
Itwasnotwholesometoknowsomuchaboutthewaythefatsheriff’swigfelloffasheleanedoverattheplayinMr.Douglass’sHistrionickAcademyinKingStreetontheeleventhofFebruary,1762,whichfellonaThursday;orabouthowtheactorscutthetextofSteele’sConsciousLoversobadlythatonewasalmostgladtheBaptist-riddenlegislatureclosedthetheaterafortnightlater.ThatThomasSabin’sBostoncoachwas"damn’duncomfortable"oldlettersmaywellhavetold;butwhathealthyantiquariancouldrecallhowthecreakingofEpenetusOlney’snewsignboard(thegaudycrownhesetupafterhetooktocallinghistaverntheCrownCoffeeHouse)wasexactlylikethefirstfewnotesofthenewjazzpiecealltheradiosinPawtuxetwereplaying?
Ward,however,wouldnotbequizzedlonginthisvein.Modernandpersonaltopicshewavedasidequitesummarily,whilstregardingantiqueaffairshesoonshowedtheplainestboredom.Whathewishedclearlyenoughwasonlytosatisfyhisvisitorenoughtomakehimdepartwithouttheintentionofreturning.TothisendheofferedtoshowWilletttheentirehouse,andatonceproceededtoleadthedoctorthrougheveryroomfromcellartoattic.
