Rosa Campbell Praed

“ He is very proud, but he is an odd mixture, too, of modesty and pride—too modest to speak of love until he is told that he may love—but then, when lifted so high, brave enough for any woman's heart—resolute to hold to her, to defend her, to fight for her, to die for her, to do anything but give her up! ”

“ There lay the secret of her power! She was almost fainting when Cosway Keele brought her forward. Her eye turned to the upper box in which Lendon sat beside Mrs. Cubison. He felt that they were lifted in yearning for sympathy, and, oh! with what wild passionate love his heart went out to her! Mrs. Cubison hurried down the narrow staircase and along the stone passage that led behind. The word had gone round that, as usual on first nights, Cosway Keele would hold a reception on the stage when all was over, and half the occupants of the stalls and boxes were crowding round. Lendon held back. ”

“ I love you as I have never loved any other woman in the world—purely, wholly, devotedly. I don't want to hide from you that I have loved before. I cared once for a woman who—who was unworthy. That love is dead—a thing of the past ”

“ Beatrice's triumph was to him too sacred a thing for this. Mrs. Cubison bade him wait while she went into Beatrice's dressing-room. Presently her dresser came out to say that Miss Brett and Mrs. Cubison were going straight home and wished Mr. Lendon to go with them.
It was not long before Beatrice herself, leaning shyly on Mrs. Cubison's arm, stole down the passage so closely cloaked and hooded as to be scarcely recognizable. At the same moment Cosway Keele rushed out through the green-room door.
"Miss Brett, we are waiting for you. You will come on? All London is longing to congratulate you." ”

“ The sick leading lady, who was of course too ill to be present, cursed fate in having been forced to give an opening to a formidable rival. The friends of that same leading lady gathered in somewhat gloomy force, prepared to report and condemn. The audience was what the newspapers called a more than usually brilliant assemblage, but as the house filled there were evidences of almost painful tension. ”

“ In truth his mind, except during the sittings, was too much occupied with Beatrice herself and with the fate of the play, to concern itself deeply about Countess Adrian. He was working at the background one afternoon when, to his great, surprise, Mrs. Cubison and Miss Brett were announced.
They had come to consult him upon a matter in the Duchess' costume, about which Cosway Keele and the Dionysion authorities found themselves in sudden perplexity. An impulse had seized Beatrice to drive along the embankment to Chelsea. They had got into a hansom at the door of the Dionysion, where they were. ”