dingly there was nothing for it but to go
on. I was in such dread, however, lest a false alarm should spring up
among the audience and occasion a rush, that I kept Catherine and
Georgina out of the front. When the curtain went up and I saw the great
sea of faces rolling up to the roof, I looked here and looked there, and
thought I saw the gallery out of the perpendicular, and fancied the
lights in the ceiling were not straight. Rounds of applause were perfect
agony to me, I was so afraid of their effect upon the building. I was
ready all night to rush on in case of an alarm--a false alarm was my
main dread--and implore the people for God's sake to sit still. I had
our great farce-bell rung to startle Sir Geoffrey instead of throwing
down a piece of wood, which might have raised a sudden-apprehension. I
had a palpitation of the heart, if any of our people stumbled up or down
a stair. I am sure I never acted better, but the anxiety of my mind was
so intense, and the relief at last so great, that I am half-dead to-day,
and have not yet been able to eat or drink anything or to stir out of
my room. I shall never forget it. As to the short time we had for
getting the theatre up; as to the upsetting, by a runaway pair of
horses, of one of the vans at the Newcastle railway station, _with all
the scenery in it, every atom of which was turned over_; as to the
fatigue of our carpenters, who have now been up four nights, and who
were lying dead asleep in the entrances last night; I say nothing, after
the other gigantic nightmare, except that Sloman's splendid knowledge of
his business, and the good temper and cheerfulness of all the workmen,
are capital. I mean to give them a supper at Liverpool, and address them
in a neat and appropriate speech. We dine at two to-day (it is now one)
and go to Sheffield at four, arriving there at about ten. I had been as
fresh as a daisy; walked from Nottingham to Derby, and from Newcastle
here; but seem to have had my nerves crumpled up last night, and have an
excruciating headache. That's all at present. I shall never be able to
bear the smell of new deal and fresh mortar again as long as I live."

Manchester and Liverpool closed the trip with enormous success at both
places; and Sir Edward Lytton was present at a public dinner which was
given in the former city, Dickens's brief word about it being written as
he was setting foot in the train that was to bring him to London.
"Bulwer spoke brilliant