er a heap of scorn and a pile of luggage
he had brought down for his wedding tour.

"I scampered up to London, laughing all the way; and when I got home, if
I remember right, I cried for two hours. How do you account for that?"

"I hope, madam," said Vane, gravely, "it was remorse for having trifled
with that poor young lady's heart; she had never injured you."

"But, sir, the husband I robbed her of was a brute and a villain in his
little way, and wicked and good-for-nothing, etc. He would have deceived
that poor little hypocrite, as he had this one," pointing to herself.

"That is not what I mean; you inspired her with an attachment, never to
be forgotten. Poor lady, how many sleepless nights has she passed since
then, how many times has she strained her eyes to see her angel lover
returning to her! She will not forget in two years the love it cost you
but two days to inspire. The powerful should be merciful. Ah! I fear you
have no heart."

These words had no sooner burst from Mr. Vane, than he was conscious of
the strange liberty he had taken, and, indeed, the bad taste he had been
guilty of; and this feeling was not lessened when he saw Mrs. Woffington
color up to the temples. Her eyes, too, glittered like basilisks; but
she said nothing, which was remarkable in her, whose tongue was the
sword of a _maitre d'armes._

Sir Charles eyed his friend in a sly, satirical manner; he then said,
laughingly: "In two months _she married a third!_ don't waste your
sympathy," and turned the talk into another channel; and soon after,
Mrs. Woffington's maid appearing at the door, she courtesied to both
gentlemen and left the theater. Sir Charles Pomander accompanied Mr.
Vane a little way.

"What becomes of her innocence?" was his first word.

"One loses sight of it in her immense talent," said the lover.

"She certainly is clever in all that bears upon her business," was the
reply; "but I noticed you were a little shocked with her indelicacy in
telling us that story, and still more in having it to tell."

"Indelicacy? No!" said Vane; "the little brute deserved it. Good
Heavens! to think that 'a little brute' might have married that angel,
and actually broke faith to lose her; it is incredible, the crime is
diluted by the absurdity."

"Have you heard him tell the story? No? Then take my word for it, you
have not heard the facts of the case."

"Ah! you are prejudiced against her?"

"On the contrary, I like her. But I k