od-by, dearest H----; believe me ever

Yours most affectionately,

F. A. K.

P.S.--This is my summer tour--Bath, Edinburgh, Dublin, Liverpool,
Manchester, and Birmingham. I am Miss _Fanny_ Kemble, because Henry
Kemble's daughter, my uncle Stephen's granddaughter, is Miss Kemble
by right of birth.

The lady who spoiled my pretty cream-colored poplin dress by spilling
coffee on the front of it, instantly, in the midst of her vehement
self-upbraidings and humble apologies for her awkwardness, adopted a
very singular method of appeasing my displeasure and soothing my
distress, by deliberately pouring a spoonful of coffee upon the front
breadth of her own velvet gown. My amazement at this proceeding was
excessive, and it neither calmed my wrath nor comforted my sorrow, but
exasperated me with a sense of her extreme folly and her conviction of
mine. The perpetrator of this singular act of atonement was the
beautiful Julia, eldest daughter of the Adjutant-General, Sir John
Macdonald, and the lady whom the Duke of Wellington pronounced the
handsomest woman in London; a verdict which appeared to me too
favorable, though she certainly was one of the handsomest women in
London. An intimate acquaintance subsisted between her family and ours
for several years, and I was indebted to Sir John Macdonald's
assistance, most kindly exerted in my behalf, for the happiness of
giving my youngest brother his commission in the army, which Sir John
enabled me to purchase in his own regiment; and I was indebted to the
great liberality of Mr. John Murray, the celebrated publisher, for the
means of thus providing for my brother Henry. The generous price
(remuneration I dare not call it) which he gave me for my play of
"Francis the First" obtained for me my brother's commission.

JAMES STREET, BUCKINGHAM GATE, March 9th.
DEAREST H----,

I have been so busy all this day, signing benefit tickets, that I
hardly feel as if I could write anything but "25th March, F.A.K."
Our two last letters crossed on the road, and yours was so kind an
answer to mine, which you had not yet received, that I feel no
further scruple in breaking in upon you with the frivolity of my
worldly occupations and proceedings.

I was sorry that the newspapers should give you the first account
of my