manuscript music: played and sang half through it. Came to my room; tried on dresses for Lady Macbeth, and the Wonder, and dressed for dinner. My father dined out. After dinner, went in to see Mrs. ----. Sat some time with her mother, her chicks, and her young doctor of a cousin, who is quite a civilised mortal. Poor Mrs. ---- was too ill to see me. Came to the drawing-room, wrote journal, played and sang till tea-time. After tea, read the history of Knickerbocker, whereat I was like to have died, through the greate merrimente its rare and excellente pleasantries did cause in me, insomuche that I lay on the sofa screaming, very much like one lunaticke. _Friday, 14th._ After breakfast, put out things for the theatre. Practised for an hour; read and marked the Comedy of Errors, which is really great fun: perhaps not funnier than Amphytrion, but the subject is more agreeable a good deal. Read a canto in Dante; got ready for the riding-school; found ---- and Mr. ---- in the drawing-room. As we were going out, the gentlemen did not remain long. When they were gone, D---- and I set off for the riding-school. We were hardly there before ---- made his appearance: I wonder what he'll do for an _interest_, by the by, when we are gone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The school was quite empty, so we had it all to ourselves. D---- mounted up upon a detestable shambling brute, that wouldn't go _no how_. I had a fancy for making my little fiery charger leap over the bar, and made Mr. ---- put it down for me. The beast had no idea of such saltatory proceedings, and jerked himself over it three times most abominably. The fourth time I pushed him at it, he jumped, and I jumped too, out of the saddle on to my feet, having lighted down very comfortably at the horse's head with the reins in my hand, neither hurt nor frightened. This is the first time a horse ever had me off. I got on again, but declined leaping any more. At a quarter to three we returned home. ---- walked with us. At the corner of Sansom Street, met young ----. Heaven bless ---- from a challenge! Came home; dined: after dinner, went in and sat with Mrs. ---- till coffee-time. Showed her my dresses, and read her a scene or two of the Hunchback. Went to the theatre at half-past five. Play, the Hunchback--the house was literally crammed. I played very well, except being out in my town scene--an unwonted occurrence with me. After the play, came home, supped, and read the Wonder, which I thought wondrous dull. _Saturday, 15th._