antagonistic to his artistic taste and tendency, but I think, too,
there is a slight infusion of the vexation of unappreciated labor
in my father's criticism of Kean. He forgets that power is
universally felt and understood, and refinement seldom the one or
the other, and for a thousand who applaud Kean's "What, wouldst
thou have a serpent sting thee twice?" probably not ten people are
aware of his exquisite "nevertheless" in the reading of Antonio's
letter. Most eyes can "see a church by daylight;" not many stop to
look at the lights and shadows that are forever varying and adding
to the beauty of its aspect. I wonder how, being as well aware as
my father is of all the fine work that escapes the eyes of the
public, he can care for this kind of thing as he does.

_Tuesday, 12th._--We are having events at the theater, and not of a
pleasant sort. Mr. Brunton, the manager, is in "difficulties"
(civilized plural for debt), and it seems that last night during
the play one of his creditors put an execution into the theater,
and laid violent hands upon the receipts, which, as it was my
father's benefit, rather dismayed us. So after breakfast this
morning, having put out my dresses for my favorite Portia for
to-night, I went to the theater to ascertain if there was to be a
rehearsal or not. My father had gone in search of Mr. Brunton to
see how matters could be arranged, and at all events to represent
that we could not go on acting unless our money was secured to us.
Charles Mason, Dall, and I in the mean time found the poor actors
in the theater very much at a loss how to proceed, as it seemed
extremely doubtful whether there would be any performance; so we
returned home, where we found my father, who said that at all
events there must be a rehearsal, for it was absolutely necessary
if we did act to-night, and could do us no harm if we did not; so
we repaired again to the theater, where the scattered and scared
_corps dramatique_ having been got together again, we proceeded to
business.

_Wednesday, 13th._--Mr. K---- called and told us that some
arrangement had been made with the truculent creditor of our poor
manager by which _we_ shall not lose any more in this unlucky
business. My father will be quit for about a hundred pounds. I am
very so