She went about in a dream, rather a delirium.

Mr.Peel used his most affable manner to her; his compliments after the rehearsal were an augury of great things.

And the eventful evening approached.
To give herself plenty of time to dress (the costumes needed for the part were fortunately simple, and Mr.Peel had advanced her money to make needful purchases) she left her lodgings at half-past six.

It was a fine evening, but very dark in the two or three by-streets along which she had to pass to reach the theatre.

She waited a minute on the doorstep to let a troop of female mill-hands go by; their shoes clanked on the pavement, and they were singing in chorus, a common habit of their kind in leaving work.