Retreat was ended this morning with Mass by the reverend, beautiful old Bishop,82 Benediction, and a fine ringing sermon. At breakfast there was great rejoicing, fun and speech-making. Worked and read till dinner, when Mám, Páp and I went to the Opera House for the first of Col. Brase’s concerts. We were all behind the stage – it was a great relief not to be worried and harassed the whole time by fears for our part in the concert, as was the case in his first two visits. Programme was delightful – it is extraordinary to what pitch of excellence he has brought those country lads, but he is a veritable tyrant. His men both love and are terrified of him. Among other things was Nicolai’s overture to ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’. This has always had the most wonderful fascination and charm for me. Col. Brase came to us for tea. The evening concert was still finer and the mighty living organ responded to overture to ‘Faust’ and to ‘Rhinegold’. The houses were not too good, but they were all highly enthusiastic. Col. Brase, Horgans, Michael Donovan83 the poet, Dr. Frend were for supper. But I was not privileged. I wrote my diary in the kitchen while the gods did sit at table.
