Woffington."
"Ah! that is a subject! They shall be ready in an hour!" cried Trip, in
whose imagination Parnassus was a raised counter. He had in a teacup some
lines on Venus and Mars which he could not but feel would fit Thalia and
Croesus, or Genius and Envy, equally well. "In one hour, sir," said
Triplet, "the article shall be executed, and delivered at your house."
Mrs. Woffington called Vane to her, with an engaging smile. A month ago
he would have hoped she would not have penetrated him and Sir Charles;
but he knew her better now. He came trembling.
"Look me in the face, Mr. Vane," said she, gently, but firmly.
"I cannot!" said he. "How can I ever look you in the face again?"
"Ah! you disarm me! But I must strike you, or this will never end. Did I
not promise that, when you had earned my _if_ esteem, I would tell
you--what no mortal knows--Ernest, my whole story? I delay the
confession. It will cost me so many blushes, so many tears! And yet I
hope, if you knew all, you would pity and forgive me. Meantime, did I
ever tell you a falsehood?"
"Oh no!"
"Why doubt me then, when I tell you that I hold all your sex cheap but
you? Why suspect me of Heaven knows what, at the dictation of a
heartless, brainless fop--on the word of a known liar, like the world?"
Black lightning flashed from her glorious eyes as she administered this
royal rebuke.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134