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Chapter VIII.

ENGLAND.


In the month of May 1841 Rachel accepted the proposal made by Mr. Lumley of Her Majesty's Theatre to act there for one month.

The frantic enthusiasm with which her performances had been received in Paris was cooling, and her father and the Director of the Comédie Française came to the conclusion that absence, and a triumphant return with fresh laurels gathered elsewhere, might reconquer the place in the affections of the public that she had lost. The young actress took London by storm. Nothing was talked of but her fascination, her genius, her beauty. The Queen had been married but a year. Prince Albert had inspired her with the love of intellectual pleasures, amongst which he included the theatre. The representations at Her Majesty's, therefore, were honoured by the presence of the Court, and crowded with all the fashionable world of London. Her first appearance was in Hermione. An amusing mistake was made by the audience, to whom the actress was as yet unknown. The part of Andromaque was filled by a Mademoiselle Larcher,