h on which I have to sit down. Hernani managed with great
presence of mind and cleverness in its absence, but it spoilt our
prettiest picture. After the play Lady Francis came to fetch me to
be presented to the Queen; her Majesty was most gracious in her
reception of me, and so were the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of
Gloucester, who came and had quite a long chat with me. When I had
received my dismissal from her Majesty I ran to disrobe, and
returned to join the crowd in the drawing-room.... When they were
all gone we adjourned to Lady Gower's--a most magnificent supper,
which _we_ enjoyed in the perfection of comfort, in a small boudoir
opening into and commanding the whole length of the supper saloon.
Our snuggery just held my mother, Lady Francis, myself, Charles
Greville, and three of our _corps dramatique_, and we not only
enjoyed a full view of the royal table, but what was infinitely
amusing, poor Lord Francis's disconsolate countenance, which half
killed us with laughing. Supper done, we all proceeded downstairs
to see the Royalty depart, and looked at a fine picture of
Lawrence's of that handsome creature, Lord Clanwilliam. Took leave
of my friends for some months, I am sorry to say; took Mr. ----home
in our carriage and set him down just at day-dawn. It was past four
o'clock before I saw my bed; and the life I am leading is really
enough to kill any one.

_Thursday, June 23d._--Quite unwell, and in bed all day. Mrs.
Jameson came and sat with me some time. We talked of marriage, and
a woman's chance of happiness in giving her life into another's
keeping. I said I thought if one did not expect too much one might
secure a reasonably fair amount of happiness, though of course the
risk one ran was immense. I never shall forget the expression of
her face; it was momentary, and passed away almost immediately, but
it has haunted me ever since.

GREAT RUSSELL STREET.
DEAR LADY DACRE,

I am commissioned by my mother to request your kind permission to
bring my brother to your evening party on Saturday; she hopes you
will have no scruple in refusing this request, if for any reason
you would rather not comply with it.... I have been thinking much
about what you said to me both _viva voce_ and i