[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.  Can it be that she, rather than Cibber, suggested this dashing bit of dialogue from the comedy: 

* * * * *

“LADY BETTY. [Meeting LADY EASY.] Oh! my dear!  I am overjoyed to see you!  I am strangely happy to-day; I have just received my new scarf from London, and you are most critically come to give me your opinion of it.

“LADY EASY.  O! your servant, madame, I am a very indifferent judge, you know:  what, is it with sleeves?

“LADY BETTY.  O! ’tis impossible to tell you what it is!  ’Tis all extravagance both in mode and fancy, my dear; I believe there’s six thousand yards of edging in it—­then such an enchanting slope from the elbow—­something so new, so lively, so noble, so coquet and charming—­but you shall see it, my dear.

“LADY EASY.  Indeed I won’t, my dear; I am resolv’d to mortify you for being so wrongfully fond of a trifle.

“LADY BETTY.  Nay, now, my dear, you are ill-natured.

“LADY EASY.  Why truly, I am half angry to see a woman of your sense so warmly concerned in the care of her outside; for when we have taken our best pains about it, ’tis the beauty of the mind alone that gives us lasting value.

“LADY BETTY.  Oh! my dear! my dear! you have been a married woman to a fine purpose indeed, that know so little of the taste of mankind.  Take my word, a new fashion upon a fine woman is often a greater proof of her value than you are aware of.