Besides,
it will be well done. They say Davy Garrick can turn his eyes into
bottled gooseberries. Well, Peg Woffington will turn hers into black
currants. Haven't you done? I wonder they have not come. Make haste!"
"They will know by its beauty I never did it."
"That is a sensible remark, Trip. But I think they will rather argue
backward; that, as you did it, it cannot be beautiful, and so cannot be
me. Your reputation will be our shield."
"Well, madam, now you mention it, they are like enough to take that
ground. They despise all I do; if they did not--"
"You would despise them."
At this moment the pair were startled by the sound of a coach. Triplet
turned as pale as ashes. Mrs. Woffington had her misgivings; but, not
choosing to increase the difficulty, she would not let Triplet, whose
self-possession she doubted, see any sign of emotion in her.
"Lock the door," said she, firmly, "and don't be silly. Now hold up my
green baize petticoat, and let me be in a half-light. Now put that table
and those chairs before me, so that they can't come right up to me; and,
Triplet, don't let them come within six yards, if you can help it. Say it
is unfinished, and so must be seen from a focus."
"A focus! I don't know what you mean."
"No more do I; no more will they, perhaps; and if they don't they will
swallow it directly. Unlock the door.
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