As a woman off the stage Ada Rehan was even more wonderful than as a
shrew on. She had a touch of dignity, of nobility, of beauty, rather
like Eleonora Duse's. The mouth and the formation of the eye were
lovely. Her guiltlessness of make-up off the stage was so attractive!
She used to come in to a supper with a lovely shining face which scorned
a powder-puff. The only thing one missed was the red hair which seemed
such a part of her on the stage.
Here is a dear letter from the dear, written in 1890:
"My dear Miss Terry:
"Of course, the first thing I was to do when I reached Paris was
to write and thank you for your lovely red feathers. One week is
gone. To-day it rains and I am compelled to stay at home, and at
last I write. I thought you had forgotten me and my feathers
long ago. So imagine my delight when they came at the very end.
I liked it so. It seemed as if I lived all the time in your
mind; and they came as a good-bye.
"I saw but little of you, but in that little I found no change.
That was gratifying to me, for I am over-sensitive, and would
never trouble you if you had forgotten me. How I shall prize
those feathers--Henry Irving's presented by Ellen Terry to me
for my Rosalind Cap. I shall wear them once and then put them by
as treasures. Thank you so much for the pretty words you wrote
me about 'As You Like It.' I was hardly fit on that matinée. The
great excitement I went through during the London season almost
killed me. I am going to try and rest, but I fear my nerves and
heart won't let me.
"You must try and read between the lines all I feel. I am sure
you can if anyone ever did; but I cannot put into words my
admiration for you--and that comes from deep down in my heart.
Good-bye, with all good wishes for your health and success.
"I remain,
"Yours most affectionately,
"Ada Rehan"
I wish I could just once have played with Ada Rehan. When Mr. Tree could
not persuade Mrs. Kendal to come and play in "The Merry Wives of
Windsor" a second time, I hoped that Ada Rehan would come and rollick
with me as Mrs. Ford,--but it was not to be.
[Illustration: _From the collection F. H. Meserve_