Simon."

This cult of the past, which had been a passion
with her since childhood, was, as she said, ever a source
of perpetual interest and happiness throughout her
long life. She often deplored that so few people
appreciated or understood what pleasure may be
obtained from the cultivation of such a taste. As was
but natural, she revered the memory of her kinsman
of Strawberry Hill and never failed to acquire any
rehcs of him she could. It was a great pleasure to
her a few years before her death when she obtained
possession of his silver Opera Ticket, the two sides of
which are respectively inscribed, " Opera Subscrip-
tion, King's Theatre " and " Mr. Horatio Walpole,
No. 21."

This ticket, curiously enough, was at one time in
the possession of the celebrated Paddy Green, ^ well
known in connection with the old-time supper resort
" Evans's."

In her childhood a good many people were still
aUve who had known the celebrated dilettante of
Strawberry Hill in the flesh and more than once she
had been taken to see the Miss Berrys, with either of
whom Horace Walpole is said to have been ready
to go through the marriage ceremony. Mary, his
" suavissima Maria," and Agnes, his " sweet lamb,"
had then reached a great age. Concerning this visit
my mother wrote : " I must own that I felt, as any
girl would, very shy when I found myself in the
presence of these two celebrities, and all I could
notice was that they were so old and dried up that
they looked to me like two mummies or ghosts. Shade

» See p. i8i.
