_November 10._--First night of "Lear." Such a foggy day! H. was just marvelous, but indistinct from nervousness. T. spoke out, but who cared! Haviland was very good. My Ted splendid in the little bit he had to do as Oswald. I was rather good to-night. It _is_ a wee part, but fine. _December 7._--Poor Fred Leslie is dead. Typhoid. A thunderbolt to us all. Poor, bright, charming Fred Leslie! _December 31._--This has been a dark year. Mother died. Illness rife in the family. My son engaged--but that may turn out well if the young couple will not be too hasty. H.I. not well. Business by no means up to the proper point. A death in the Royal Family. Depression--depression! _March 9, 1897._--Eunice (Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher) is dead. Poor darling! She was a great friend to me. _April 10._--First night of "Sans-Gne." A wonderful first-night audience. I acted courageously and fairly well. Extraordinary success. _April 14._--Princess Louise (Lorne) came to see the play and told me she was delighted. Little Elspeth Campbell was with her, looking lovely. I did not play well--was depressed and clumsy. _May 13._--It's all off about "The Man of Destiny" play with H.I. and G.B.S. _May 15._--To "Princess and Butterfly" with Audrey and AimŽe. Miss Fay Davis better than ever. _May 17._---Nutcombe Gould has lost his voice, and Ted was called upon at a moment's notice to play Hamlet at the Olympic to-night. _June 20._--Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's for the Queen's Jubilee. Went with Edy and Henry. Not at all adequate to the occasion was the ceremony. The Te Deum rather good, the sermon sensible, but the whole uninspired, unimpassioned and _dull_. The Prince and Princess looked splendid. _June 22._--To Lady Glenesk's, Piccadilly. Wonderfullest sight I ever saw. All was perfect, but the little Queen herself more dignified than the whole procession put together! Sarah B. was in her place at the Glenesks' at six in the morning. Bancroft made a Knight. Mrs. Alma-Tadema's "at home." Paderewski played. What a divinely beautiful face! _July 14._--The Women's Jubilee Dinner at the Grafton Galleries. Too ill to go. My guests were H.I., Burne-Jones, Max Beerbohm, W. Nicholson, Jimmy Pryde, Will Rothenstein, Graham Robertson, Richard Hardig Davis, Laurence Irving, Ted and Edy. _December 11._--(In Manchester.) Poor old Fussie dropped down a trap 30 feet and died in a second. _December 16._--Willie Terriss was murdered this evening. Newspapers sent me a wire for "expressions of sympathy"!!