The
prudent course for you is to keep apart, and be always cheerful, and
welcome him with a smile--and--have you read 'The Way to keep him'?"
"No, Mr. Triplet," said Mabel, firmly, "I cannot feign. Were I to attempt
talent and deceit, I should be weaker than I am now. Honesty and right
are all my strength. I will cry to her for justice and mercy. And if I
cry in vain, I shall die, Mr. Triplet, that is all."
"Don't cry, dear lady," said Triplet, in a broken voice.
"It is impossible!" cried she, suddenly. "I am not learned, but I can
read faces. I always could, and so could my Aunt Deborah before me. I
read you right, Mr. Triplet, and I have read her too. Did not my heart
warm to her among them all? There is a heart at the bottom of all her
acting, and that heart is good and noble."
"She is, madam! she is! and charitable too. I know a family she saved
from starvation and despair. Oh, yes! she has a heart--to feel for the
_poor,_ at all events."
"And am I not the poorest of the poor?" cried Mrs. Vane. "I have no
father nor mother, Mr. Triplet; my husband is all I have in the
world--all I _had,_ I mean."
Triplet, deeply affected himself, stole a look at Mrs. Woffington. She
was pale; but her face was composed into a sort of dogged obstinacy. He
was disgusted with her. "Madam," said he, sternly, "there is a wild beast
more cruel and savage than wolves and bears; it is called 'a rival,' and
don't you get in its way.
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