nd there was the picture with white
face, tired eyes, holes in the cheeks, and boredom in every line.
Sargent tried to paint his smile and gave it up."

[Illustration: IMOGEN, LUCY ASHTON, CATHERINE DUVAL, LUCY ASHTON

_Copyrighted by Window and Grove_]

Sargent said to me, I remember, upon Henry Irving's first visit to
the studio to see the "Macbeth" picture of me, "What a saint!" This to
my mind promised well--that Sargent should see _that_ side of Henry so
swiftly. So then I never left off asking Henry Irving to sit to
Sargent, who wanted to paint him into the bargain, and said to me
continually, "What a head!"

[Illustration: CARDINAL WOLSEY, LADY MACBETH, GUINEVERE, THOMAS BECKET

_Terry and Miss Frances Johnson_
_Copyrighted by Window and Grove and by W. & D. Downey_]

Again from my diary:

"Sargent's picture is almost finished, and it is really splendid.
Burne-Jones yesterday suggested two or three alterations about the
colour, which Sargent immediately adopted, but Burne-Jones raves
about the picture.

"It (Macbeth) is a most tremendous success, and the last three
days' advanced booking has been greater than ever was known, even
at the Lyceum. Yes, it is a success, and I am a success, which
amazes me, for never did I think I should be let down so easily.
Some people hate me in it; some, Henry among them, think it my
best part, and the critics differ, and discuss it hotly, which in
itself is my best success of all! Those who don't like me in it
are those who don't want and don't like to read it fresh from
Shakespeare, and who hold by the 'fiend' reading of the
character.... One of the best things ever written on the subject,
I think, is the essay of J. Comyns Carr. That is as hotly
discussed as the new Lady Mac--all the best people agreeing with
it. Oh dear! It is an exciting time!"

[Illustration: NANCY OLDFIELD, HERMIONE, ALICE-SIT-BY-THE-FIRE, LADY
CICELY, WAYNEFLETE

_Copyrighted by Window and Grove_]

From a letter I wrote to my daughter who was in Germany at the time:

"I wish you could see my dresses. They are superb, especially the
first one: green beetles in it, and such a cloak! The photographs
give no idea of it at all, for it is in colour that it is so
splendid. The dark red hair is fine. The whole thing is
Rossetti--rich stained-glass effects. I play some of it well, but
of course I don't do what I want to do yet. Meanwhile I shall not