Chapter I: Front Matter

ELLEN TERRY
AND HER SISTERS

_Photographed by_ _Window & Grove._

ELLEN TERRY AS PORTIA.

_She first appeared in this part, one of the greatest of her Shakespearean creations, at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre in 1875, and resumed it at the Lyceum in 1879._

_Frontispiece._]

ELLEN TERRY
AND HER SISTERS

BY

T. EDGAR PEMBERTON

AUTHOR OF

"THE KENDALS;" "A MEMOIR OF E. A. SOTHERN;" "THE LIFE AND WRITINGS
OF T. W. ROBERTSON;" "CHARLES DICKENS AND THE STAGE;"
"JOHN HARE, COMEDIAN;" "BRET HARTE: A
TREATISE AND A TRIBUTE;"
ETC. ETC.

_WITH TWENTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS_

LONDON
C. ARTHUR PEARSON, LIMITED
HENRIETTA STREET
1902

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_

"THE KENDALS"

Demy 8vo, with Portraits and numerous Illustrations.

Price 16s.

"One of the most interesting theatrical records that has been penned for some time."--_Outlook._

"A charming work.... Pithy and well arranged. Turned out with infinite credit to the publishers."--_Morning Advertiser._

"It leaves an impression like that of a piece in which the Kendals have played, an impression of pleasure, refinement, refreshment, and of the value of cherishing sweet and kindly feelings in art as in life. Few books can do that, and so this work has every prospect of being widely read."--_Scotsman._

LONDON: C. ARTHUR PEARSON, LIMITED

_April 11, 1901._

MY DEAR FRIEND,--

You tell me that if I give you leave you can weave a story about me that will interest your readers. If that be so, you have my full permission to tell it, and it will please me to do anything in my power to assist you in your work. Whilst writing about me you will, I am sure, speak of those with whom I have been closely associated in my acting life, and make mention of the affectionate regard in which I hold them.

Your intimate knowledge of all that concerns the stage will at least keep you right as to the facts of your pages.

I suppose I must leave the fancy of them in your hands.

Yours cordially,

ELLEN TERRY.

_To_
T. EDGAR PEMBERTON.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. BEGINNINGS 1

II. FIRST APPEARANCES 29

III. THE BRISTOL STOCK COMPANY 57

IV. AT THE HAYMARKET THEATRE 74

V. KATE TERRY 91

VI. CHIEFLY AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE 132

VII. IN TOTTENHAM STREET 142

VIII. IN SLOANE SQUARE 156

IX. SOME SPLENDID STROLLING 171

X. MARION AND FLORENCE TERRY 192

XI. HENRY IRVING 208

XII. AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE, 1878-1883 219

XIII. AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE, 1884-1901 252

XIV. ENDINGS 296

INDEX 311

VINE COTTAGE,
KINGSTON VALE.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

ELLEN TERRY AS "PORTIA" _Frontispiece_

ELLEN TERRY WHEN EIGHT YEARS OF AGE _To face page_ 24

TOWER COTTAGE, WINCHELSEA 48

SMALLHYTHE FARM 80

BUST OF ELLEN TERRY BY W. BRODIE, R.S.A. 88

KATE TERRY 102

ELLEN TERRY'S COUNTRY HOME IN KINGSTON VALE 112

KATE TERRY AS "ARIEL" 120

HENRY IRVING IN 1868 136

ELLEN TERRY AS LORD TENNYSON'S "DORA" 174

MARION TERRY 194

ELLEN TERRY IN TRAGEDY AND COMEDY _circa_ 1878 222

ELLEN TERRY AS "OPHELIA" 224

ELLEN TERRY, 1881 242

ELLEN TERRY AS "BEATRICE" 250

ELLEN TERRY AS "VIOLA" 254

ELLEN TERRY AS "ELLALINE" 262

SIR HENRY IRVING AS "CARDINAL WOLSEY" 272

ELLEN TERRY AS "QUEEN GUINEVERE" 282

ELLEN TERRY AS "VOLUMNIA" 292

ELLEN TERRY

AND HER SISTERS