l!" uttered by a single voice resounded through
the theater, and was followed by such a burst of applause that I was
startled and almost for a moment frightened by the sudden explosion of
feeling, for which I was quite unprepared, and which I have never
forgotten.

Another night, as I was leaving the stage, after the play, I met behind
the scenes my dear friend Mr. Harness, with old Mr. Sotheby; both were
very kind in their commendation of my performance, but the latter kept
repeating with much emphasis, "But how do you contrive to make yourself
look so beautiful?" a rather equivocal compliment, which had a peculiar
significance; my beauty, or rather my lack of it, being a sore subject
between us, as I had made it the reason for refusing to act Mary Stuart
in his play of "Darnley," assuring him I was too ugly to look the part
properly; so upon this accusation of making myself "look beautiful," I
could only reply, with much laughing, "Good-looking enough for Camiola,
but not for Queen Mary."

I received with great pleasure a congratulatory letter from Mrs.
Jameson, which, in spite of my feeling her praise excessive, confirmed
me in my opinion of the effect the piece ought to produce upon
intelligent spectators. She had seen all the great dramatic performers
of the Continental theaters, and had had many opportunities, both at
home and abroad, of cultivating her taste and forming her judgment, and
her opinion was, therefore, more valuable to me than much of the
criticism and praise that I received.

GREAT RUSSELL STREET, March, 1831.
DEAR MRS. JAMESON,

My mother is confined to her bed with a bad cold, or she would have
answered your note herself; but, being disabled, she has
commissioned me to do so, and desires me to say that both my father
and herself object to my going anywhere without some member of my
family as chaperon; and as this is a general rule, the infringement
of it in a particular instance, however much I might wish it, would
be better avoided, for fear of giving offense where I should be
glad to plead the prohibition. She bids me add that she fears she
cannot go out to-morrow, but that some day soon, at an early hour,
she hopes to be able to accompany us both to the British Gallery.
Will you come to us on Sunday evening? You see what is hanging over
me for Thursday next; shall you go to see me?