But she threw the door open and there appeared another lady, the
real Mrs. Vane. Mrs. Woffington then threw off her hood, and, to Sir
Charles Pomander's consternation, revealed the features of that ingenious
person, who seemed born to outwit him.
"You heard that fervent declaration, madam?" said she to Mrs. Vane. "I
present to you, madam, a gentleman who regrets that he mistook the real
direction of his feelings. And to you, sir," continued she, with great
dignity, "I present a lady who will never mistake either her feelings or
her duty."
"Ernest! dear Ernest!" cried Mrs. Vane, blushing as if she was the
culprit. And she came forward all love and tenderness.
Her truant husband kneeled at her feet of course. No! he said, rather
sternly, "How came you here, Mabel?"
"Mrs. Vane," said the actress, "fancied you had mislaid that weathercock,
your heart, in Covent Garden, and that an actress had seen in it a fit
companion for her own, and had feloniously appropriated it. She came to
me to inquire after it."
"But this letter, signed by you?" said Vane, still addressing Mabel.
"Was written by me on a paper which accidentally contained Mrs. Vane's
name. The fact is, Mr. Vane--I can hardly look you in the face--I had a
little wager with Sir Charles here; his diamond ring--which you may see
has become my diamond ring"--a horrible wry face from Sir Charles--
"against my left glove that I could bewitch a country gentleman's
imagination, and make him think me an angel.
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