The Story of My Life - Recollections and Reflections by Ellen Terry
page 184 of 447 (41%)
page 184 of 447 (41%)
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"Very," said Loveday. "I always like those lilies. A friend of mine has
his garden full of them, and he says they're not so difficult to grow if only you give 'em enough water." Henry's delight at having "taken in" Loveday was childish. But sometimes I think Loveday must have seen through these innocent jokes, only he wouldn't have spoiled "the Guv'nor's" bit of fun for the world. When Henry first met him he was conducting an orchestra. I forget the precise details, but I know that he gave up this position to follow Henry, that he was with him during the Bateman régime at the Lyceum, and that when the Lyceum became a thing of the past, he still kept the post of stage manager. He was literally "faithful unto death," for it was only at Henry's death that his service ended. Bram Stoker, whose recently published "Reminiscences of Irving" have told, as well as it ever _can_ be told, the history of the Lyceum Theater under Irving's direction, was as good a servant in the front of the theater as Loveday was on the stage. Like a true Irishman, he has given me some lovely blarney in his book. He has also told _all_ the stories that I might have told, and described every one connected with the Lyceum except himself. I can fill _that_ deficiency to a certain extent by saying that he is one of the most kind and tender-hearted of men. He filled a difficult position with great tact, and was not so universally abused as most business managers, because he was always straight with the company, and never took a mean advantage of them. Stoker and Loveday were daily, nay, hourly, associated for many years with Henry Irving; but, after all, did they or any one else _really_ know him? And what was Henry Irving's attitude. I believe myself that he |
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