CHAPTER VI

A.D. 1847-1850

GRAVITY AND FUN

Though verging now on her thirtieth year, Charlotte Tucker was still unknown to the public as an Author. If the initials A. L. O. E. existed in her mind as a future possibility, they had at least not yet appeared upon any printed page.

From time to time, however, her pen was busy; still in the old line of comic or tragic plays, for home amusement. In 1847 she wrote _The Castle of Sternalt; a Tragedy in Two Acts_; belonging to the Cavalier and Roundhead period of England’s history. In that same year she also accomplished _Grimhaggard Hall; a Farce in Two Acts_--not historical, but highly comic. After which came apparently a gap of two or three years; and in 1850 she wrote, _Who Was The Witch? a Drama in Three Acts_--historical again, belonging to the days of the Saxons and of King Harold, half comic, half tragic.

It does not appear from these three plays that her gift in the dramatic line had made any marked advance during the ten years or more which had elapsed since first she launched out in this direction. Probably an entirely different mode of life from hers, a less sheltered existence, a more extensive knowledge of human nature in its countless phases, is an absolute necessity to such development. There is in them much latent power, however unequal and undeveloped, whether it be of the grave or of the sparkling and humorous description. The following quotation from the _Castle of Sternalt_ will give an idea of her tragic style at that period. Ravensby, the hero, is a Cavalier, imprisoned and condemned to death on a false charge of murder.