The summer passed, Rich opened the Lincoln's Inn Fields playhouse and sent for Lavinia.

He gave her quite an important part and Lavinia was elated, albeit the play was one of Wycherley's most repulsive productions, "The Country Wife." But all through the winter season this part was her only opportunity for distinction.

John Rich, like most actor managers, had but an eye for himself as the central figure and in his own special province--dancing and posturing.

His "Harlequin" entertainment "The Rape of Proserpine" proved to be one of his biggest successes and ran uninterruptedly for three months.
Lavinia's line in the piece was simply to "walk on" among the "lasses" but she had the gratification of seeing her name announced in the advertisements--a sufficient proof that she was rising in Rich's estimation.

She had at last a chance of showing what she could do.