er anxious I may be to refer them to
side-ache, toothache, or any other ache, I am afraid deserve small
mercy on the score of physical infirmity; but she, poor thing, I am
sorry to say, suffers much and often from ill health, and
complained, with evident experience, of the difficulty of
preserving a cheerful spirit and an even temper in the dreary
atmosphere of a sick-room.

When she was gone I set to work with "Francis I.," and corrected
all the errors in the meter which Mr. Milman had had the kindness
to point out to me. I then went over Beatrice with my mother, who
takes infinite pains with me and seems to think I profit. She went
to the play with Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Edward Romilly, who is a
daughter of Mrs. Marcet, and, owing to A----'s detestation of that
learned lady's elementary book on natural philosophy, I was very
desirous they should not meet one another, though certainly, if any
of Mrs. Marcet's works are dry and dull, it is not this charming
daughter of hers.

But A---- was rabid against "Nat. Phil.," as she ignominiously
nick-named Mrs. Marcet's work on natural philosophy, and so I
brought her to the theater with me; and she stayed in my
dressing-room when I was there, and in my aunt Siddons's little box
when I was acting, as you used to do; but she sang all the while
she was with me, and though I made no sign, it gave me the nervous
fidgets to such a degree that I almost forgot my part. In spite of
which I acted better, for my mother said so; and there is some hope
that by the time the play is withdrawn I shall not play Beatrice
"like the chief mourner at a funeral," which is what she benignly
compares my performance of the part to.

The alteration in my gowns met with her entire approbation--I mean
the taking away of the plaits from round the waist--and my aunt
Dall pronounced it an immense improvement and wished you could see
it.

Lady Dacre and her daughter, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mr. James Wortley
were in the orchestra, and came after the play to supper with us,
as did Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Edward Romilly, and Mr.
Harness: a very pleasant party, for the ladies are all clever and
charming, and got on admirably together.

It is right, as you are a shareholder in that valuable property of
ours, Covent G