Page:Rachel (1887 Nina H. Kennard).djvu/109

 quatrième fille." She tells him the courage it gives her to work with him:

"The day before the performance of Mithridate," M. Samson tells us, "we made an expedition to the forest of Saint Germain, my wife, my children and myself, and there she had read over the rôle of Monime with me." This letter shows the nervousness Rachel experienced whenever she acted a new rôle:—

To Madame Toussaint, Samson's daughter, she writes:—

Then come two letters, written when she was studying Phèdre:—

I would like to go over my rôle of Hermione with you. I went to supper yesterday evening at M. Buloz'; I came home late, and my maid has only this instant wakened me. I am afraid it is too late for you, but thought I would let you know I have studied Phèdre a great deal. I will go to-morrow to ask you the result of my profound meditations.