Here was a combination of comedy and tragedy, with a vengeance! Still Nance went on, delighting the town as of yore, and putting into her last original role, that of Sophonisba, a fire which breathed not of sickness nor failing powers.

At last there came a day when she played her final part, and left Drury Lane only to be driven tenderly home to her death-bed.

Think of the pathos of this last performance, this giving up of all that was most alluring in life, and let none of us poor moderns presume to analyse the heart-broken woman's feelings as she said good-bye to the dear old theatre.

Anne worshipped art, and the public, in turn, worshipped her; she had acted her many parts, laughed, cried, sinned, and waxed exceeding happy--and now she was to be cast out into the darkness.

Must she not have shivered when she entered her house in Lower Grosvenor Street for the last time?
Poor lovable creature! There could be for her now neither lights, nor laughter, nor applause; all would be gloom and weariness to the end.
During the weeks which followed, the invalid received the untiring attentions of Mistress Saunders, who once upon a time played bouncing chambermaids, but who had, for ten years past, acted as a feminine _valet de chambre_ and general factotum for Mrs.Oldfield.And if ever she played well, 'twas in thus ministering to the dying wants of one who in health had been ever helpful and generous.