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that by the time the play is withdrawn I shall not play Beatrice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.
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