Mr. Vane was far from being unmoved by his
wife's arrival, and her true affection. But she worried him; he was
anxious, above all things, to escape from his present position, and
separate the rival queens; and this was the only way he could see to do
it. He whispered Mabel, and bade her somewhat peremptorily rest herself
for an hour after her journey, and he entered the garden with Mrs.
Woffington.
Now the other gentlemen admired Mrs. Vane the most. She was new. She was
as lovely, in her way, as Peggy; and it was the young May-morn beauty of
the country. They forgave her simplicity, and even her goodness, on
account of her beauty; men are not severe judges of beautiful women. They
all solicited her to come with them, and be the queen of the garden. But
the good wife was obedient. Her lord had told her she was fatigued; so
she said she was tired.
"Mr. Vane's garden will lack its sweetest and fairest flower, madam,"
cried Cibber, "if we leave you here."
"Nay, my lord, there are fairer than I."
"Poor Quin!" cried Kitty Clive; "to have to leave the alderman's walk for
the garden-walk."
"All I regret," said the honest glutton, stoutly, "is that I go without
carving for Mrs. Vane."
"You are very good, Sir John; I will be more troublesome to you at
supper-time."
When they were all gone, she couldn't help sighing. It almost seemed as
if everybody was kinder to her than he whose kindness alone she valued.
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