Hers was a romantic history. Her maiden name was Percival, and she married Mountford the actor, who was killed by Lord Mohun for protecting Mrs. Bracegirdle. Betterton says, 'Her Father Mr. _Percival_ had the Misfortune to be drawn into the Assassination Plot against King _William_; for this he lay under Sentence of Death, which he received on the same Night that Lord Mohun killed her husband, Mr. _Mountfort_. Under this, almost insuperable Affliction, she was introduced to the good Queen _Mary_, who being, as she was pleased to say, _Struck to the Heart_ upon receiving Mrs. _Mountfort's_ Petition, immediately granted all that was in her Power, a Remission of her Father's Execution for that of Transportation. But Fate had so ordered it that poor Mrs. _Mountfort_ was to lose both Father and Husband. For as Mr. _Percival_ was going abroad, he was so weakened by his Imprisonment, that he was taken Sick on the Road, and died at _Portsmouth_.' She afterwards married Jack Verbruggen, and their married life is thus described by Aston: 'She was the best Conversation possible; never Captious, or displeas'd at any Thing but what was gross or indecent; for she was cautious lest fiery _Jack_ shou'd so resent it as to breed a Quarrel; for he would often say _Dammee! tho' I don't much value my Wife yet no Body shall affront her, by G--d_; and his Sword was drawn on the least occasion, which was much the fashion in the latter End of King _William's_ Reign.' She is described as being 'a fine fair Woman, plump, full featured, her Face of a fine smooth Oval.' The theatre never solely depended upon the drama for its attractions, and there was generally a ballet of some description; not, of course, such elaborate affairs as we have now, but performances by one or two artists, such as M. L'Abbé and Mrs. Elford. The dances were such as chacones, minuets, allmands, corantos, jigs, sarabands, etc., and we have already seen the pains taken with this art, and the elaborate instructions of its professors. CHAPTER XXVI. OPERA, CONCERTS, MUSIC. Introduction of Italian opera -- Its rapid popularity -- Mixture of languages -- Handel -- His operas, and visit here -- Singers -- Abel -- Hughs -- Leveridge -- Lawrence -- Ramondon -- Mrs. Tofts -- Her madness -- Foreign singers -- Margherita de l'Epine -- Nicolino Grimaldi -- Isabella Girardeau -- Composers -- Dr. Blow -- Jeremiah Clarke -- Dean Aldrich -- Tom D'Urfey -- Henry Carey -- Britton, the small coal man -- His concerts -- His death -- Concerts and concert rooms -- Gasparini, the violinist -- Musical instruments -- Musical scores.