Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

MEMOIES 03? JOSEPH GEIMALDI. 47

Miss Hughes every evening in his mother's presence, and every
Sunday she spent with them. All this time his reputation was
rapidly increasing; almost every new part he played rendered
him a greater favourite than before, and altogether his lot in
life was a cheerful and contented one.

At this period, the only inhabitants of the house in Penton-
place were Q-riraaldi and his mother, and Mrs. Lewis, of whom
honourable mention has been so often made in the present
chapter, together with her husband; there was no servant in the
house ; a girl that had lived with them some time having gone
into the country to see her friends, and no other having been
engaged in her absence.

One night in the middle of August, a "night rehearsal" was
called at Sadler's "Wells. -For the information of those who are
unacquainted with theatrical matters, it may be well to state
that a " night rehearsal" takes place after the other performances
of the evening are over, and the public have left the house.
Being an inconvenient and fatiguing ceremony, it is never re-
sorted to, but when some very heavy piece (that is, one on a
very extensive scale) is to be produced on a short notice. In
this instance a new piece was to be played on the following
Monday, of which the performers knew very little, and there
being no time to lose, a " night rehearsal" was called, the natural
consequence of which would be the detention of the company
at the theatre until four o'clock in the morning at least. Mr.
Lewis, having notice of the rehearsal in common with the other
performers, looked up their dwelling-house, being the last
person who left it; brought the street-door key with him, and
handed it over to Mr. Grimaldi.

But after the performances were over, which was shortly after
eleven, o'clock, when the curtain was raised, and the performers,
assembling on the stage, prepared to commence the rehearsal,
the stage-manager addressed the company in the following un-
expected and very agreeable terms :—ngaged, and to pos^e ofater variety than any other