Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 38 CHAPTER III. '7OUNG people of passionate tempera- -- ment frequently enjoy solitude to an extent that would be intolerable to the older and more sedate. Esther was so fully absorbed in defining the imaginings and aspirations of her newly emancipated thought, that the pity her loneliness began to excite in the matter-of-fact maid-of-all- work was unmerited. Each morning of the ensuing month found her at Mrs. Staunton's, assiduously following the tragedian's instruction, reproducing her intonations and gesticulation with an exactness only true genius for mimicry could have attained. But once the technicalities of her parts mastered, out of sight would vanish all trace of the stagy old model, and the original conception of the young pupil burst forth in unshackled individuality. At this time Esther was overflowing with the exaggerated hopes of early youth. She had no experience from which to calculate obstacles or dangers. Nothing appeared before her but success in a career brilliant as a rainbow. She saw herself the regenerator of the Drama, the impersonation of many a great poet's dream; and, beyond and above all, she pictured the blissful moment when in an idolized artist her mother should recognise the child, still in memory her own little pupil. She was notfond of looking back; and if occasionally a retrospective thought threatened her, she would invite her new friend Tony to tea, or ask Mrs. Staunton to accompany her to one of those amateur theatres where her pupils practised; or she would even talk to Betsy, rather than allow herself to feel sad. Why she should feel sad, some account of her antecedents may explain. Esther's grandfather, Mr. O'Keeffe, was an Irishman among Irishmen, and a Catholic among Catholics. He had never quitted his native Kerry but once....