The "Apologist" has been speaking of Oldfield's success in Leonora, and he goes on to say: "Upon this unexpected sally, then, of the power and disposition of so unforseen an actress, it was that I again took up the first two acts of the 'Careless Husband,' which I had written the summer before, and had thrown aside in despair of having justice done to the character of Lady Betty Modish by any one woman then among us; Mrs.Verbruggen being now in a very declining state of health, and Mrs.Bracegirdle out of my reach and engag'd in another company: But, as I have said, Mrs.Oldfield having thrown out such new proffers of a genius, I was no longer at a loss for support; my doubts were dispell'd and I had now a new call to finish it." [Illustration: ROBERT WILKS _After the Painting by_ JOHN ELLYS, 1732] And finish the play Cibber did, casting Nance for the volatile Lady Betty and producing it under the most brilliant auspices.

The whole assignment of characters was admirable, but the first Lady Betty, bursting upon the town in sudden glory, threw all her companions into the shade.

Never had such a fine lady of comedy been seen, said the critics; never had an actress (who was not expected to be over-versed in the affairs of the "quality") displayed such gentility, high-breeding and evidence of being--Heaven knew how--quite "to the manner born." Never was woman so bubbling over with humour, said the people.

As for Colley, he was delighted, of course, but believing that an honest confession is good for the soul, even for the soul of a Poet Laureate, he has left us the following graceful tribute to the important part played by the actress in making the "Careless Husband" a success: "Whatever favourable reception this comedy has met with from the Publick, it would be unjust in me not to place a large share of it to the account of Mrs.Oldfield; not only from the uncommon excellence of her action, but even from her personal manner of conversing.

There are many sentiments in the character of Lady Betty Modish that I may almost say were originally her own, or only dress'd with a little more care than when they negligently fell from her lively humour." Here we have a clue to that vivacity and _naivete_ which distinguished Anne off the stage as well as on.