And when the young wife, instead of inveighing
against her, came to her as a supplicant, with faith in her goodness, and
sobbed to her for pity, a big tear rolled down her cheek, and proved her
something more than a picture or an actress.
Mrs. Vane, as we have related, screamed and ran to Triplet.
Mrs. Woffington came instantly from her frame, and stood before them in a
despairing attitude, with one hand upon her brow. For a single moment her
impulse was to fly from the apartment, so ashamed was she of having
listened, and of meeting her rival in this way; but she conquered this
feeling, and, as soon as she saw Mrs. Vane too had recovered some
composure, she said to Triplet, in a low but firm voice:
"Leave us, sir. No living creature must hear what I say to this lady!"
Triplet remonstrated, but Mrs. Vane said, faintly:
"Oh, yes, good Mr. Triplet, I would rather you left me."
Triplet, full of misgivings, was obliged to retire.
"Be composed, ladies," said he piteously. "Neither of you could help it;"
and so he entered his inner room, where he sat and listened nervously,
for he could not shake off all apprehension of a personal encounter.
In the room he had left there was a long, uneasy silence. Both ladies
were greatly embarrassed. It was the actress who spoke first. All trace
of emotion, except a certain pallor, was driven from her face.
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