is a cheerful way of
returning from a ball.

_Saturday, 16th._-- ... Mrs. Clarke, Miss James, the Messrs. M----,
and Alfred Tennyson dined with us. I am always a little
disappointed with the exterior of our poet when I look at him, in
spite of his eyes, which are very fine; but his head and face,
striking and dignified as they are, are almost too ponderous and
massive for beauty in so young a man; and every now and then there
is a slightly sarcastic expression about his mouth that almost
frightens me, in spite of his shy manner and habitual silence. But,
after all, it is delightful to see and be with any one that one
admires and loves for what he has done, as I do him. Mr. Harness
came in the evening. He is excellent, and I am very fond of him.
They all went away about twelve.

_Monday, 18th._-- ... At the theater, in the evening, the house was
good, and I played pretty fairly.... At supper my father read us
his examination before the committee of the House of Commons about
this minor theater business. Of course, though every word he says
upon the subject is gospel truth, it will only pass for the partial
testimony of a person deeply interested in his own monopoly.

_Thursday, 21st._--Called on Mrs. Norton, ... and on Lady Dacre, to
bid her good-by. At the theater, in the evening, the house was
good, and I played very well. How sorry I shall be to go away! The
actors, too, all seem so sorry to have us go, and it will be so
hard to see none of the accustomed faces, to hear none of the
familiar voices, while discharging the tasks that are often so
irksome to me. John Mason came home after the play and supped with
us.

_Friday, 22d._-- ... In the afternoon I called upon the Sotherbys,
to bid them good-by; afterward to the Goldsmiths', on the same
cheerless errand. Stopped at dear Miss Cottin's to thank her for
the beautiful bracelet she had sent me as a farewell present; and
then on to Lady Callcott's, with whom I spent a few solemn
moments--solemnity not without sweetness--and I scarcely felt
sorrowful when she said, "I shall never see you again." She is
going to what we call heaven, nearer to God (that is, in her own
consciousness, nearer to God)....

In the evening to the theater. I only played pretty well, except
the last scen