Page:Letters from India Vol 1.djvu/231

 carries off her ugliness very well, and seems to be a really good actress.

Tuesday, August 16. A shocking catastrophe! The jeune premiére has got one of the fevers all new arrivals have, by rehearsing in the heat yesterday; and as M. de la Jarriette, the manager, says, with a strong ‘Comment doubler nos emplois dans un pays comme celui-ci, et comment jouer sans jeune première?’ it is put off till her fever leaves her, and Captain and Captain  have passed the morning in preparing our guests to-night to dance, instead of listening to a play they cannot understand. I suppose everybody had made up their mind to come, for it was the largest party we have had yet, and the hottest night. I thought the crowd might render the house untenable, so I went out on the verandah, and there was not the slightest difference between the heat of a ball-room and the natural atmosphere.

Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th, and Friday 19th. I was done up with pains in my head and bones, and thought I was going to have the