loits I got dreadfully weary of; I prefer
him greatly in hall and bower rather than in tournament and
battle-field.

We got into Brighton at half-past four, and had just time to dine,
dress, and go to the theater, where we were to act "The Stranger."
The house was very full indeed, but my reception was not quite what
I had expected; for whether they were disappointed in my dress
(Mrs. Haller being traditionally clothed in droopacious white
muslin, and I dressing her in gray silk, which is both stiff and
dull looking, as I think it should be), or whether, which I think
still more likely, they were disappointed in my "personal
appearance," which, as you know, is neither tragical nor heroic, I
know not, but I thought their welcome rather, cold; but the truth
is, I believe my London audience spoils me for every other.
However, the play went off admirably, and I believe everybody was
satisfied, not excepting the manager, who assured me so full and
_enthusiastic_ a house had not been seen in Brighton for many
years.

Our rooms at the inn [the old Ship was then _the_ famous Brighton
hotel] looked out upon the sea, but it was so foggy when we entered
Brighton that although I perceived the _motion_ of the waves
through the mist that hung over them, their color and every object
along the shore was quite indistinct. The next morning was
beautiful. Dall and I ran down to the beach before breakfast; there
are no sands, unluckily, but we stood ankle-deep in the shingles,
watching the ebbing tide and sniffing the sweet salt air for a long
time with great satisfaction. After breakfast we rehearsed "The
Provoked Husband," and from the theater proceeded to take a walk.

All this was very fine, but still it was streets and houses; and
there were crowds of gay people parading up and down, looking as
busy about nothing and as full of themselves as if the great awful
sea had not been close beside them. In fact, I was displeased with
the levity of their deportment, and the contrast of all that
fashionable frivolity with the grandest of all natural objects
seemed to me incongruous and discordant; and I was so annoyed at
finding myself by the sea-side and _yet_ still surrounded with all
the glare and gayety of London, that I think I wished myself at the
bottom