ELLEN TERRY AND HER SISTERS [Illustration: _Photographed by_ _Window & Grove._ ELLEN TERRY AS PORTIA. _She first appeared in this part, one of the greatest of her Shakespearean creations, at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre in 1875, and resumed it at the Lyceum in 1879._ _Frontispiece._] ELLEN TERRY AND HER SISTERS BY T. EDGAR PEMBERTON AUTHOR OF "THE KENDALS;" "A MEMOIR OF E. A. SOTHERN;" "THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF T. W. ROBERTSON;" "CHARLES DICKENS AND THE STAGE;" "JOHN HARE, COMEDIAN;" "BRET HARTE: A TREATISE AND A TRIBUTE;" ETC. ETC. _WITH TWENTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS_ LONDON C. ARTHUR PEARSON, LIMITED HENRIETTA STREET 1902 _BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ "THE KENDALS" Demy 8vo, with Portraits and numerous Illustrations. Price 16s. "One of the most interesting theatrical records that has been penned for some time."--_Outlook._ "A charming work.... Pithy and well arranged. Turned out with infinite credit to the publishers."--_Morning Advertiser._ "It leaves an impression like that of a piece in which the Kendals have played, an impression of pleasure, refinement, refreshment, and of the value of cherishing sweet and kindly feelings in art as in life. Few books can do that, and so this work has every prospect of being widely read."--_Scotsman._ LONDON: C. ARTHUR PEARSON, LIMITED _April 11, 1901._ MY DEAR FRIEND,-- You tell me that if I give you leave you can weave a story about me that will interest your readers. If that be so, you have my full permission to tell it, and it will please me to do anything in my power to assist you in your work. Whilst writing about me you will, I am sure, speak of those with whom I have been closely associated in my acting life, and make mention of the affectionate regard in which I hold them. Your intimate knowledge of all that concerns the stage will at least keep you right as to the facts of your pages. I suppose I must leave the fancy of them in your hands. Yours cordially, ELLEN TERRY. _To_ T. EDGAR PEMBERTON. [Illustration: _Label designed for his sister by Gordon Craig_] [Illustration: _Ellen Terry's book-label designed by Gordon Craig_] CONTENTS PAGE I. BEGINNINGS 1 II. FIRST APPEARANCES 29 III. THE BRISTOL STOCK COMPANY 57 IV. AT THE HAYMARKET THEATRE 74 V. KATE TERRY 91 VI. CHIEFLY AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE 132 VII. IN TOTTENHAM STREET 142 VIII. IN SLOANE SQUARE 156 IX. SOME SPLENDID STROLLING 171 X. MARION AND FLORENCE TERRY 192 XI. HENRY IRVING 208