CHAPTER XIV.

WESTBOURNE FARM.

John Kemble was now both actor and manager at Covent Garden, and the results were much more satisfactory in every way to Mrs. Siddons. Harris the proprietor was strictly punctual in his payments, and the Kemble family, who numbered Charles Kemble in their ranks, were sufficient to make the performances attractive enough to the public. Mrs. Siddons appeared in several of her old parts; amongst others in Elvira, when the actor Cooke came on so drunk as to be unable to act his part. He did not improve matters by attempting to excuse himself. He could only articulate, "Ladies and Gentlemen, my old complaint," when he was removed, and Henry Siddons had to read his part. Fit pendant to the night when he appeared as Sir Archy Macsarcasm with Johnstone, who was playing Sir Calaghan. There was a dead pause: At last Johnstone, advancing to the footlights, said with a strong brogue, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Cooke says he can't spake," which bull was received with roars of laughter and hisses.

The great actress performed sixty times that season.