Read it through once

The October of 1826 saw the second volume of _Our Village_ published—Whittaker having survived his business troubles; a small play, _Gaston de Blondeville_ awaiting Kemble’s reading; a volume of _Dramatic Scenes_ preparing for the press, and the author anticipating an immediate visit to town to witness the long-delayed production of _Foscari_. For this event the Doctor and his daughter took apartments at 45, Frith Street, and these, Miss Mitford wrote, were delightful. The _Foscari_ was to be produced on Saturday, November 5, and as the visitors arrived in town on November 1, they employed the interval in witnessing various plays and in working themselves into a fever of excitement lest Kemble should not recover from an attack of hoarseness and lest the Duke of York—then seriously ill—should succumb, in which latter case, of course, the theatre would be closed. But the Duke did not die and, as luck would have it, the November number of _Blackwood_ contained a delightful review of _Our Village_ and a laudatory notice of the author. This was all to the good. It stimulated the public interest, and the consequence was a very full house on that auspicious Saturday. How delightful it is to read of well deserved success. Miss Mitford’s letter home to her mother is infectiously exhilarating. It was written after the play, late on the Saturday night, so that no time might be lost in the conveyance of the news and in order to prevent the Doctor from rushing off then and there to Reading and home to carry the news in person.