"If not," quoth I, "I cannot do worse than Dr. Goldsmith, when his play[94] failed,--go home and cry."
He laughed, but told me, repeatedly (I mean twice, which, for him, is very remarkable), that I might depend upon all the service in his power; and, he added, it would be well to make Murphy the last judge, "for he knows the stage," he said, "and I am quite ignorant of it."
Afterwards, grasping my hand with the most affectionate warmth, he said,
"I wish you success! I wish you well! my dear little Burney!"
When, at length, I told him I could stay no longer, and bid him good night, he said, "There is none like you, my dear little Burney! there is none like you!--good night, my darling!"
A BEAUTY WEEPING AT WILL,
I find Miss Streatfield a very amiable girl, and extremely handsome; not so wise as I expected, but very well; however, had she not chanced to have had so uncommon an education, with respect to literature or learning, I believe she would not have made her way among the wits by the force of her natural parts.
Mr. Seward, you know, told me that she had tears at command, and I begin to think so too, for when Mrs. Thrale, who had previously told me I should see her cry, began coaxing her to stay, and saying, "If you go, I shall know you don"t love me so well as Lady Gresham,"--she did cry, not loud indeed, nor much, but the tears came into her eyes, and rolled down her fine cheeks.
"Come hither, Miss Burney," cried Mrs. Thrale, "come and see Miss Streatfield cry!"
I thought it a mere badinage. I went to them, but when I saw real tears, I was shocked, and saying "No, I won"t look at her," ran away frightened, lest she should think I laughed at her, which Mrs. Thrale did so openly, that, as I told her, had she served me so, I should have been affronted with her ever after.
Miss Streatfield, however, whether from a sweetness not to be ruffled, or from not perceiving there was any room for taking offence, gently wiped her eyes, and was perfectly composed!
MR. MURPHY"S CONCERN REGARDING f.a.n.n.y BURNEY"S COMEDY.
_Streatham, May, Friday_. Once more, my dearest Susy, I will attempt journalising, and endeavour, according to my promise, to keep up something of the kind during our absence, however brief and curtailed.
To-day, while Mrs. Thrale was chatting with me in my room, we saw Mr.
Murphy drive into the courtyard. Down stairs flew Mrs. Thrale, but, in a few minutes, up she flew again, "crying,
"Mr. Murphy is crazy for your play--he won"t let me rest for it--do pray let me run away with the first act."
Little as I like to have it seen in this unfinished state, she was too urgent to be resisted, so off she made with it.
I did not shew my phiz till I was summoned to dinner. Mr. Murphy, probably out of flummery, made us wait some minutes, and, when he did come, said,
"I had much ado not to keep you all longer, for I could hardly get away from some new acquaintances I was just making."
As he could not stay to sleep here, he had only time, after dinner, to finish the first act. He was pleased to commend it very liberally; he has pointed out two places where he thinks I might enlarge, but has not criticised one word; on the contrary, the dialogue he has honoured with high praise.
_Brighthelmstone, May 26_. The road from Streatham hither is beautiful: Mr., Mrs., Miss Thrale, and Miss Susan Thrale, and I, travelled in a coach, with four horses, and two of the servants in a chaise, besides two men on horseback; so we were obliged to stop for some time at three places on the road.
We got home by about nine o"clock. Mr. Thrale"s house is in West Street, which is the court end of the town here, as well as in London. "Tis a neat, small house, and I have a snug comfortable room to myself. The sea is not many yards from our windows. Our journey was delightfully pleasant, the day being heavenly, the roads in fine order, the prospects charming, and everybody good-humoured and cheerful.
_Thursday._ Just before we went to dinner, a chaise drove up to the door, and from it issued Mr. Murphy. He met with, a very joyful reception; and Mr. Thrale, for the first time in his life, said he was "a good fellow": for he makes it a sort of rule to salute him with the t.i.tle of "scoundrel," or "rascal." They are very old friends; and I question if Mr. Thrale loves any man so well.
He made me many very flattering speeches, of his eagerness to go on with my play, to know what became of the several characters, and to what place I should next conduct them; a.s.suring me that the first act had run in his head ever since he had read it.
In the evening we all, adjourned to Major H--"s, where, besides his own family, we found Lord Mordaunt, son to the Earl of Peterborough,--a pretty, languid, tonnish young man; Mr. Fisher, who is said to be a scholar, but is nothing enchanting as a gentleman; young Fitzgerald, as much the thing as ever; and Mr. Lucius Corcannon.
Mr. Murphy was the life of the party: he was in good spirits, and extremely entertaining; he told a million of stories, admirably well; but stories won"t do upon paper, therefore I shall not attempt to present you with them.
This morning, as soon as breakfast was over, Mr. Murphy said,
"I must now go to the seat by the seaside, with my new set of acquaintance, from whom I expect no little entertainment."
"Ay," said Mrs. Thrale, "and there you"ll find us all! I believe this rogue means me for Lady Smatter; but Mrs. Voluble[96] must speak the epilogue, Mr. Murphy."
"That must depend upon who performs the part," answered he.
"Don"t talk of it now," cried I, "for Mr. Thrale knows nothing of it."
"I think," cried Mr. Murphy, "you might touch upon his character in "Censor.""
"Ay," cried Mr. Thrale, "I expect a knock some time or other; but, when it comes, I"ll carry all my myrmidons to cat-call!"
Mr. Murphy then made me fetch him the second act, and walked off with it.
A SCENE ON THE BRIGHTON PARADE.
We afterwards went on the parade, where the soldiers were mustering, and found Captain Fuller"s men all half intoxicated, and laughing so violently as we pa.s.sed by them, that they could hardly stand upright.
The captain stormed at them most angrily; but, turning to us, said,
"These poor fellows have just been paid their arrears, and it is so unusual to them to have a sixpence in their pockets, that they know not how to keep it there."
The wind being extremely high, our caps and gowns were blown about most abominably; and this increased the risibility of the merry light infantry. Captain "Fuller"s desire to keep order made me laugh as much as the men"s incapacity to obey him; for, finding our flying drapery provoked their mirth, he went up to the biggest grinner, and, shaking him violently by the shoulders, said, "What do you laugh for, sirrah? do you laugh at the ladies?" and, as soon as he had given the reprimand, it struck him to be so ridiculous, that he was obliged to turn quick round, and commit the very fault he was attacking most furiously.
MR. MURPHY CONSIDERS THE DIALOGUE IS CHARMING: A CENSORIOUS LADY.
After tea, the bishop, his lady, Lord Mordaunt, and Mrs. H-- seated themselves to play at whist, and Mr. Murphy, coming up to me, said,
"I have had no opportunity, Miss Burney, to tell you how much I have been entertained this morning, but I have a great deal to say to you about it; I am extremely pleased with it, indeed. The dialogue is charming; and the--"
"What"s that?" cried Mrs. Thrale, "Mr. Murphy always flirting with Miss Burney? And here, too, where everybody"s watched!"