"I have no intention of acting under any other name but my own," wrote the irrepressible young man in return.
When he had been upon the stage some time, he met by chance one of the friends who had ranged himself on the side of the opposers.
"Hullo, Charlie," he said, rather condescendingly. "Still--er--on the stage?"
"Oh yes," replied our friend. "And you--still in the Commons?"
I am indebted to a mutual friend, Mr. William Elliot, for the following story of Brookfield in later years.
My friend met him one day with his wife in Jermyn Street; the next time he saw him Brookfield remarked--
"It was so lucky I met you the other day, for it enabled me to tell my wife something I have always been too shy to tell her before--that I have become a Catholic." (Mrs. Brookfield had always been a Papist.)
"What nonsense," replied my friend. "How could my meeting you and your wife start you on a confession of that nature?"
"Very simple," said "Brooks." "The moment you had gone I said to Ruth, 'What a pleasure it is to meet Willie Elliot--always the same--bright and agreeable. All these years that I have known him I have only one thing against him!'
A very typical story is told of how he wrote to the editor of _The Lancet_ suggesting that they should publish a Christmas number, and offering to write a humorous story entitled "My first Post-Mortem!"
Mrs. C. H. E. Brookfield is the author of several interesting books, and I must not forget to mention Mrs. Brookfield, the mother of my friend, whose personality and exquisite charm of manner were so delightful. I had not the pleasure of her acquaintance in earlier days, but, judging from portraits, she must have been extremely beautiful, although it is strange that she should have been the original of heroines in Thackeray's novels, the meek and mild "Amelia" of "Vanity Fair" among them.
The Lotus Club was now a novelty, and I joined it, as did several of my friends; and many an amusing evening was spent there. The representatives of the Gaiety of that day, Nellie Farren, Kate Vaughan, Kate Munroe, and Amalia were among the attractive actresses who frequented the club. There were dances twice a week, and I well remember dancing with Nellie Farren, who was the best waltzer of them all. Kate Vaughan was delightful, but not such a good partner, although, of course, her stage dancing was the absolute "poetry of motion." Many were the pleasant hours I spent at that jolly club--and I was young.