In all her actions Mrs. Weldon conducted her own case with a
brilliance that was remarkable, as was her English, which was
perfectly beautiful; but her reputation of fearlessness where the law
was concerned made one very careful of repeating in her presence any
casual remark that might lead to trouble. During the time she sat to
me I remember one particular day especially, when she arrived in high
dudgeon, complaining bitterly of a housekeeper in another studio into
which she had by mistake been shown. This lady had been impolite, and
had not treated her with the respect due to her position; and for this
slight she was prepared to sign a "round robin" to get rid of the
woman and persuade the other tenants to help her.
Not paying much attention to the story, although I regretted any
trouble that had occurred, I did not realize the identity of the
offending "woman," until, going into my mother's studio, she informed
me that on no account did she want to see Mrs. Weldon, whose voice she
had now identified. But, as Mrs. Weldon was leaving, my mother
inadvertently ran into her and was recognized. Having determined to
have a day _en negligée_, and to spend her time tearing up an
accumulation of old letters, my mother had made arrangements not to be
in to any models or visitors; her annoyance was considerable when Mrs.
Weldon knocked at her door in mistake for mine, and without looking
twice to distinguish her visitor, she had informed her that she did
not require any models that day. After explanations and apologies had
been exchanged on either side, peace was restored, as, incidentally,
was my visitor's equanimity.
Mrs. Weldon was engaged at this period to sing at the London Pavilion
at a very handsome salary. On one of these occasions, when I went to
hear her, I amused myself during an interval with making a caricature
of the conductor of the orchestra; when I had completed the drawing, I
noticed that my temporary model had observed my procedure, and a
moment later the attendant handed me a little piece of paper on which
was drawn a caricature of myself! and a note requesting me to send my
drawing for his inspection--which I did.
When Mrs. Weldon went to Brighton, she sent me a charming letter
asking me to go down there, but at the moment I was a little
disconcerted by the extreme publicity surrounding her movements, and
did not take advantage of her kind invitation. I remember her saying
to me, "They call me mad, and I suppose everybody is mad on some
point. My mania is vanity--I love compliments--as long as you flatter
me I shall be your best friend."
Miss Christabel Pankhurst, whom (as another lady looming largely in
the eye of the public) I drew for _Vanity Fair_, made quite an
attractive cartoon for that paper. She was a very good model, with
most agreeable manners. I studied her first at the Queen's Hall, where
her windmill-like gestures attracted my notice first. Her brilliant
colouring and clear voice were also characteristic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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