MADAME VERTEUIL #Mlle. Beatrice de Bunsen# MADAME BEAUMONT #Mlle. de Langhe# LEONORA, sa niece #Lady Mary Pepys# DIDIER, son neveu } M. DUPAS, Maitre de danse} #M. Francis Waddington# TRUETTE, soubrette #Mlle. Cameron# I was very proud of my little troupe. Beatrice looked very well and stately in powder, black satin, and lace. Mile. de Langhe and Daisy very well got up, and the two children charming. Lady Mary Pepys was too sweet, and they danced their minuet perfectly. There were roars of laughter when Francis appeared as "Maitre de Danse" with a white wig and his violin. The children were not at all shy, enjoyed themselves immensely. B. was a little "emue" at first when she saw how many people there were, but it didn't last and she was excellent, so perfectly correct, and unfrivolous, and boring. Francis said his little poetry, "Le bon Gite" of Deroulede, quite prettily. W. was rather surprised and quite pleased, and Thenard beamed, as she had coached him. She recites some of those "Chants du Soldat" of Deroulede's divinely. It is a perfect treat to hear her recite in her beautiful rich voice "Le Petit Clairon," also "La Fiancee du Timbalier," with an accompaniment of soft music. All the children (as we had invited Francis's young friends to see the performance) had tea together afterward, and they wound up with a dance. The men of the Embassy were much pleased, particularly Jusserand, who is rather "difficile." They complimented B. very much; said she spoke so distinctly and with very little accent. It was rather trying for her to play before all the Embassy and an ex-member of the Comedie Francaise. Francis's blue velvet coat and lace ruffles were very becoming to him. Wolff told him how to hold his violin, I wish you could have seen it. It was much prettier than the original little play at Bourneville, when we executed as well as we could a menuet. We had a very select public, among others Wyndham of the Criterion, who is an interesting man and a charming actor. When you come over I will take you to see his David Garrick, which I consider a perfect bit of acting. I wrote and asked him to "assister aux debuts d'un jeune collaborateur." The funny formal old-fashioned Berquin phrases amused him. He knows French well. #London#, August. We have decided to go to Scotland with Sir Roderick Cameron and his family, and are starting in a day or two. London is dull and empty, has suddenly become a deserted city. Even the shops are empty, and the Park a wilderness. All our colleagues have gone. I think W. is the only Ambassador in London, and he wants to get off to France and have a few days on the Aisne before he goes to the Conseil General. We means Francis and me for Scotland. _To H. L. K._ #Inveraylort#, August 17, 1888.