The lady received his advances with polite composure. Mr. Vane stammered
his admiration of her Bracegirdle; but all he could find words to say was
mere general praise, and somewhat coldly received. Sir Charles, on the
contrary, spoke more like a critic. "Had you given us the stage cackle,
or any of those traditionary symptoms of old age, we should have
instantly detected you," said he; "but this was art copying nature, and
it may be years before such a triumph of illusion is again effected under
so many adverse circumstances."

"You are very good, Sir Charles," was the reply. "You flatter me. It was
one of those things which look greater than they are. Nobody here knew
Bracegirdle but Mr. Cibber; Mr. Cibber cannot see well without his
glasses, and I got rid of one of the candles; I sent one of the imps of
the theater to knock it down. I know Mrs. Bracegirdle by heart. I drink
tea with her every Sunday. I had her dress on, and I gave the old boy her
words and her way of thinking; it was mere mimicry; it was nothing
compared with what I once did; but, a-hem!"

"Pray tell us!"

"I am afraid I shall shock your friend. I see he is not a wicked man like
you, and perhaps does not know what good-for-nothing creatures actresses
are."

"He is not so ignorant as he looks," replied Sir Charles.

"That is not quite the answer I expected, Sir Charles," replied this
lively lady; "but it serves me right for fishing on dry land. Well, then,
you must know a young gentleman courted me. I forget whether I liked him
or not; but you will fancy I hated him, for I promised to marry him. You