l's general)
about a commission for him. In the evening, not having to be
anybody tragical or heroical, I indulged in my own character, and
had a regular game of romps with the boys; my pensive public would
not have believed its eyes if it could have seen me with my hair
all disheveled, not because of my woes, but because of riotous fun,
jumping over chairs and sofas, and dodging behind curtains and
under tables to escape from my pursuers. "Is that Miss Kemble?" as
poor Mr. Bacon involuntarily exclaimed the first time he saw me.

GREAT RUSSELL STREET, December 29, 1831.
MY DEAREST H----,

You shall not entreat in vain, neither shall you have a short
answer because you have an immediate one.... I should not have
answered you so instantaneously, but that my last account of my
dear father was so bad that I cannot delay telling you how much
better he is, and how grateful we all are for his restoration to
health. He is released from his bed, of which he must be heartily
sick, and comes down to breakfast at the usual time: of course he
is still weak and low, and wretchedly thin, but we trust a little
time will bring back good spirits and good looks, though after such
a terrible attack I fear it will be long before his constitution
recovers its former strength, if indeed it ever does. He talks of
resuming his labors at the theater next Monday week. Oh! my dear
H----, what a dreadful season of anxiety this has been! but, thank
God, it is past.

I had intended that this letter should go to you to-day, but you
will forgive the delay of a day in my finishing it when I tell you
that I have some hope of its producing a commission for Henry. Sir
John Macdonald, at whose house you dined in the summer with my
mother, is now adjutant-general, and I know not what besides; and
after my mother and myself had expended all our eloquence in
winding up my father's mind to resolve upon the army as Henry's
profession, she thought the next best thing I could do would be to
attack Lady Macdonald and secure the general's interest. They
happened to call this afternoon, and your letter, my dear H----,
has been left unfinished till past post-time, while I was
soliciting this favor, which I have every hope we shall obtain.
Lady Macdonald is