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236 play to be performed was Douglas, and in this Kean played Young Norval. Whether he was ashamed, and wished to show the great actress that he, too, was an actor, it is impossible to say, but he imparted such pathos and spirit to the part, that she was surprised into admiration. After the play (Kean himself tells us) she came to him, and patting him on the head, said: "You have played well, Sir. It's a pity, but there's too little of you to do anything."

When the "little man" arrived in London, Kemble and Mrs. Siddons announced their intention of honouring with their presence the new actor's performance of Othello. A relative of Kean, who was very anxious about the result of the Kemble decision, placed herself in a box opposite, to observe the effect the performance produced on them. The Queen of Tragedy sat erect and looked cold; Mr. Kemble gave a grave attention. But as the young actor warmed to his part, Mrs. Siddons showed a pleased surprise, and at last leaned forward, her fine head on her arm, quite engrossed in the scene, while Kemble expressed continual approbation, turning to his sister as each point told. At the triumphant close of the performance, Kean's friend approached the Kembles' box. Mrs. Siddons would not allow that this extraordinary genius was the lad that had acted with her before. "Perhaps," she said, "he had assumed the name of Kean." "Then the present one has every right to drop it," said Kemble; "he is not Kean, but the real Othello." Yet Kemble must have known that night that a greater than he had arisen. It must have been a noteworthy scene, those two remarkable figures of a by-gone age, sitting in judgment on "the little gentleman who," as Kemble said, "was always so terribly in earnest," while he fretted