62 Mary Somerville 



of excellent moral character, and much esteemed. 

 Many years afterwards, when Mrs. Siddons was an 

 old woman, I drank tea with her, and heard her 

 read Milton and Shakespeare. Her daughter told us 

 to applaud, for she had been so much accustomed to 

 it in the theatre that she could not read with spirit 

 without this expression of approbation. 



My mother was pleased with my music and 

 painting, and, although she did not go to the 

 theatre herself, she encouraged me to go. She was 

 quite of the old school with regard to the duties of 

 women, and very particular about her table ; and, 

 although we were obliged to live with rigid economy, 

 our food was of the best quality, well dressed, and 

 neatly served, for she could tell the cook exactly 

 what was amiss when anything was badly cooked. 

 She thought besides that some of the comfort of 

 married life depended upon the table, so I was sent 

 to a pastrycook for a short time every day, to learn 

 the art of cookery. I had for companions Miss Mon- 

 creiff, daughter of Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood, 

 a Scotch baronet of old family. She was older than 

 I, pretty, pleasing, and one of the belles of the 

 day. We were amused at the time, and afterwards 

 made jellies and creams for little supper parties, 

 then in fashion, though, as far as economy went, we 

 might as well have bought them. 



