_she_ could, if not too stingy. Kitty here hates Peggy because Rich has
breeched her, whereas Kitty, who now sets up for a prude, wanted to put
delicacy off and small-clothes on in Peg's stead, that is where the Kate
and Peg shoe pinches, near the femoral artery, James.

"Shrimps have the souls of shrimps," resumed this _censor castigatorque
minorum._ "Listen to me, and learn that really great actors are great in
soul, and do not blubber like a great school-girl because Anne Bellamy
has two yellow silk dresses from Paris, as I saw Woffington blubber in
this room, and would not be comforted; nor fume like Kitty Clive, because
Woffington has a pair of breeches and a little boy's rapier to go a
playing at acting with. When I was young, two giantesses fought for
empire upon this very stage, where now dwarfs crack and bounce like
parched peas. They played Roxana and Statira in the 'Rival Queens.' Rival
queens of art themselves, they put out all their strength. In the middle
of the last act the town gave judgment in favor of Statira. What did
Roxana? Did she spill grease on Statira's robe, as Peg Woffington would?
or stab her, as I believe Kitty here capable of doing? No! Statira was
never so tenderly killed as that night; she owned this to me. Roxana bade
the theater farewell that night, and wrote to Statira thus: I give you
word for word: 'Madam, the best judge we have has decided in your favor.
I shall never play second on a stage where I have been first so long, but
I shall often be a spectator, and methinks none will appreciate your
talent more than I, who have felt its weight. My wardrobe, one of the
best in Europe, is of no use to me; if you will honor me by selecting a
few of my dresses, you will gratify me, and I shall fancy I see myself
upon the stage to greater advantage than before.'"

"And what did Statira answer, sir?" said Mr. Vane, eagerly.