"
"I want to know, in one word, did you cry or not?"
"Promise to tease me no more then, and I'll tell you."
"I promise."
"You won't despise me?"
"Despise you! of course not."
"Well, then--I don't remember!"
On another occasion they were seated in the dusk, by the side of the
canal in the Park, when a little animal began to potter about on an
adjacent bank.
Mrs. Woffington contemplated it with curiosity and delight.
"Oh, you pretty creature!" said she. "Now you are a rabbit; at least, I
think so."
"No," said Vane, innocently; "that is a rat."
"Ah! ah! ah!" screamed Mrs. Woffington, and pinched his arm. This
frightened the rat, who disappeared. She burst out laughing: "There's a
fool! The thing did not frighten me, and the name did. Depend upon it,
it's true what they say--that off the stage, I am the greatest fool there
is. I'll never be so absurd again. Ah! ah! ah! here it is again" (scream
and pinch, as before). "Do take me from this horrid place, where monsters
come from the great deep."
And she flounced away, looking daggers askant at the place the rat had
vacated in equal terror.
All this was silly, but it pleases us men, and contrast is so charming!
This same fool was brimful of talent--and cunning, too, for that matter.
She played late that night, and Mr. Vane saw the same creature, who dared
not stay where she was liable to a distant rat, spring upon the stage as
a gay rake, and flash out her rapier, and act valor's king to the life,
and seem ready to eat up everybody, King Fear included; and then, after
her brilliant sally upon the public, Sir Harry Wildair came and stood
beside Mr.
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