FAYAL AND THE PORTUGUESE 315 
forget the example I saw, on one of these dra- 
matic occasions, of that one cardinal virtue of 
Patience, which is to the Portuguese race the 
substitute for all more positive manly qualities. 
The performance was to be by amateurs, and a 
written programme had been sent from house 
to house during the day; and this had an- 
nounced the curtain as sure to rise at eight. 
But as most of the spectators went at six to 
secure places, —literally, places, for each car- 
ried his or her own chair, — one might suppose 
the audience a little impatient before the ap- 
pointed hour arrived. Yet one would then sup- 
pose very incorrectly. Eight o’clock came, and 
a quarter past eight, but no curtain rose. Half 
past eight. No movement nor sign of any. 
The people sat still. A quarter to nine. The 
people sat still. Nine o’clock. The people sat 
perfectly still, nobody talking much, the gentle- 
men being all the while separated from the 
ladies, and all quiet. At last, at a quarter past 
nine, the orchestra came in! The performers 
sat down, laid aside their instruments, and 
looked about them. Suddenly a whistle was 
heard behind the scenes. Nothing came of it, 
however. After a time, another whistle. The 
people sat still. Then the orchestra began to 
tune the instruments, and at half past nine the 
overture began. And during all that inexplica- 
