park. The day was beautiful, but my poor father could not get
released from that hateful theater, and went without his ride.... I
had not felt at all nervous about to-night till the carriage came
to the door, and then I turned quite faint and sick with fright. At
the theater found Madame le Beau (the forewoman of the great
fashionable French milliner, Madame Devy, by whom all my dresses
were made) waiting for me. All was in darkness in my dressing-room;
neither Mrs. Mitchell nor Jane were come (my two servants, or
dressers, as they are called at the theater). Presently in scuttled
the former, puffing, and whimpering apologies, and presently the
room was filled with the pleasant incense of eight candles that she
lighted, and blew out and relighted, and wondered that we didn't
enjoy the operation. Then Jane bounced breathless in, and made our
discomfort perfect. I sat speechless, terrified, and disconsolate.
My fright was increasing every instant, and by the time I was
dressed I shook like an aspen leaf from head to foot, and was as
sick as no heart could desire. My dresses were most beautiful, and
fitted me to perfection. The house was very fine. My poor dear
father, who was as perfect in his part as possible this morning,
did not speak three words without prompting; he was so nervous and
anxious about the success of the piece that his own part was driven
literally out of his head. I never saw anything so curious. To be
sure, his illness has shattered him very much, and all the worry he
has had this week has not mended matters. However, the play went
admirably, and was entirely successful, to assist which result I
thought I should have broken a blood-vessel in the last scene, the
exertion was so tremendous. My voice was weak with nervousness and
excitement, and at last I could hardly utter a word audibly. I
almost broke my arm, too, in good earnest, with those horrible iron
stanchions. However, it did be over at last, and "all's well that
ends well." I was so tired that I could scarcely stand; my mother
came down from her box and seemed much pleased with me. She went to
my father's room to see if I might not go home instead of to Lady
Charlotte's, but he seemed to think it would please them if we made
the effort of going for a few minutes; and so I dressed