"Helen," said my mother, "till now I thought my trials as a wife great, and my duties severe; but I am convinced that they were easy to bear and easy to perform, compared to what a fond wife feels, who is forced to mask misery with smiles; to substitute undeserved kindness for just reproach; and to submit even her own superior judgement, and her own sense of right and wrong, to the will of her husband." "But, dear mother! I shall be repaid and rewarded at last!" "Repaid, rewarded, Helen! how? Who or what is to repay you? As well can _assignats_ repay bullion, as the love of a being who has grossly erred can reward that of one to whom error is unknown." "But he has not grossly erred; and if he had, I love him," cried I, deeply wounded and appalled at the truth of what she said. "Ah! there it is," she replied; "and thus does love level all in their turns; the weak with the strong, the sensible with the foolish. One thing more, Helen, before you go--You shall have your mother's countenance and presence to support you under your new trials: I will condescend to invite myself to attend rehearsals, and I will be at the representation." I received this offer with gratitude, and then returned to tell my husband that I would perform the part of Lady Frances Touchwood. He was delighted with my compliance; and on making me read the part aloud directly he declared that I should perform to admiration. "I should have played Letitia Hardy better," said I. "You! how conceited!" "I got that part by heart once, and I have often acted it quite through for my own amusement when I was quite alone. But I prefer playing Lady Frances now, for the days of my vanity are pretty well over." "No, no, child, they are only now beginning, according to this; and little did I think I had married a great actress." Pendarves then departed in high spirits to his friends, and I sat down to study my part. But bitter were the tears I shed over it. And was I, so lately the mourner over a dying and a dead child, was I about to engage in dissipations like these?--But humbly hoping my motive sanctified my deed, I shook off overwhelming recollections, and resolved to persevere in my new task. For some days, and till all was ready for rehearsals, Pendarves rehearsed his part to me, and I to him; but at length he found it pleasanter to have Lady Martindale hear him, he said, for her broken English was so amusing. I could not oppose to this excellent reason my being a better judge of his performance, but I was forced to submit in silence. Now, however, I was soon called to rehearsals, and my mother was allowed to accompany me.