upholden, and go from strength to strength, and increase with the
increasings of God." Zachariah was rather confused by what had
happened during the week, and his mind, especially during the long
prayer, wandered a good deal much to his discomfort.



CHAPTER III--THE THEATRE



Major Maitland was very fond of the theatre, and as he had grown fond
of Zachariah, and frequently called at his house, sometimes on
business and sometimes for pleasure, he often asked his friend to
accompany him. But for a long time he held out. The theatre and
dancing in 1814 were an abomination to the Independents. Since 1814
they have advanced, and consequently they not only go to plays and
dance like other Christians, but the freer, less prejudiced, and more
enlightened encourage the ballet, spend their holidays in Paris, and
study French character there. Zachariah, however, had a side open to
literature, and though he had never seen a play acted, he read plays.
He read Shakespeare, and had often thought how wonderful one of his
dramas must be on the stage. So it fell out that at last he yielded,
and it was arranged that Mrs. and Mr. Coleman should go with the
Major to Drury Lane to see the great Edmund Kean in "Othello." The
day was fixed, and Mrs. Coleman was busy for a long time beforehand
in furbishing up and altering her wedding-dress, so that she might
make a decent figure. She was all excitement, and as happy as she
could well be. For months Zachariah had not known her to be so
communicative. She seemed to take an interest in politics; she