those young gentlemen actors did make of their greenroom this evening, to be sure! rouge, swords, wine, mustaches, soda water, and cloaks strewed in every direction.  I wonder what they would say to the drawing-room decorum of our Covent Garden greenroom.

Thursday, May 26th.—­Tried on dresses with Mrs. Phillips, and talked all the while about the characteristics of Shakespeare’s women with Mrs. Jameson, who had come to see me.  I pity her from the bottom of my heart; she has a heavy burden to carry, poor woman....  Went in the evening to rather a dull dinner, after which, however, I had the pleasure of hearing Mrs. Frere sing, which she did very charmingly, and so as quite to justify her great society musical reputation.  After our dinner at the F——­s’ we went to Mrs. W——­’s evening party, where I sat alone, heard somebody sing a song, was introduced to a man, spoke incoherently to several people, got up, was much jostled in a crowd of human beings, and came home—­and that’s society.  We are asked to a great supper at Chesterfield House, after a second representation which is to be given of “Hernani.”  My mother thinks it is too much exertion and dissipation for me, and as it is not a ball I do not care to go.

Friday, May 27th.—­At eight o’clock drove with my mother to Bridgewater House.  We went into the library, where there was nobody, and Lady Francis, Henry Greville, and Lady Charlotte came and sat with us.  I was literally crying with fright.  Lady Francis took me to my dressing-room, my mother rouged me, blessed me, and went off to join the audience assembled in the great gallery.  I went over my part once and my room a hundred times in every direction.  At nine they began; the audience very wisely were totally in the dark, which threw out the brilliantly illuminated stage to great advantage, and considering that they were the finest folk in England they behaved remarkably well—­listened quietly and attentively, and applauded like Covent Garden galleries.  It all went well except poor Mr. Craven’s first speech, in which he got out.  I don’t know whether Lady L——­ was among the spectators, and gave him des eblouissements.  It all went off admirably, however, and oh, how glad I was when it was over!

Saturday, May 28th.—­I was awakened by a basket of flowers from Cassiobury, and a letter from Theodosia.  Old Foster is dead.  I wish he might be buried near the cottage.  I should like to know where to think of his resting-place, poor old man!...

     In the evening Mrs. Jameson, the Fitzhughs, R——­ P——­, and a Mr.
     K——­, a friend of John’s, and sundry and several came....  We acted
     charades, and they all went away in high good humor.