nd so I have my reward. After a little congratulatory
conversation, I came to bed at two o'clock, and slept before my
head touched the pillow. So now that is finished, and I am glad it
is finished. Is it as good as a second piece of work ought to be? I
cannot tell. I think so differently of it at different times that I
cannot trust my own judgment. I will begin something else as soon
as possible. I wonder why nowadays we make all our tragedies
foreign? Romantic, historical, knightly England had people and
manners once picturesque and poetical enough to serve her
play-writers' turn, though Shakespeare always took his stories,
though not his histories, from abroad; but people live tragedies
and comedies everywhere and all time. I think by and by I will
write an English tragedy. [I little thought then that I should
write a play whose miserable story was of my own day, and call it
"An English Tragedy."]

_Sunday, 15th._-- ... In the afternoon hosts of people called;
among others Lady Dacre, who stayed a long time, and wants us to go
to her on Thursday. Copied "The Star of Seville" all the evening.
At ten dear Mr. Harness came in, and stayed till twelve.

_Monday, 16th._--Rehearsed "Katharine of Cleves" at eleven, but as
Lord Francis did not come till twelve we had to begin it again, and
kept at it until two. The actors seem frightened about it. Mr.
Warde quakes about the pinching (an incident in the play taken, I
suppose, from Ruthven's proceeding toward Mary Stewart at
Lochleven). I am only afraid I cannot do anything with my part; it
is a sort of melodramatic, pantomimic part that I have no capacity
for. The fact is, that neither in the first nor last scenes are my
legs long enough to do justice to this lady. The Douglas woman who
barred the door with her arm to save King James's life must have
been a strapping lass, as well a heroine in spirit. I am not tall
enough for such feats of arms. Copied my play till time to go to
the theater. My aunt Victoire came to my dressing-room just as I
was going on, and persuaded dear Dall, who has never once seen me
act, to go into the front of the house. She came back very soon in
a state of great excitement and distress, saying she could not bear
it. How odd that seems! Dear old Dall! she cannot bear seeing me