it. He whispered Mabel, and bade her somewhat peremptorily rest herself
for an hour after her journey, and he entered the garden with Mrs.
Woffington.

Now the other gentlemen admired Mrs. Vane the most. She was new. She was
as lovely, in her way, as Peggy; and it was the young May-morn beauty
of the country. They forgave her simplicity, and even her goodness, on
account of her beauty; men are not severe judges of beautiful women.
They all solicited her to come with them, and be the queen of the
garden. But the good wife was obedient. Her lord had told her she was
fatigued; so she said she was tired.

"Mr. Vane's garden will lack its sweetest and fairest flower, madam,"
cried Cibber, "if we leave you here."

"Nay, my lord, there are fairer than I."

"Poor Quin!" cried Kitty Clive; "to have to leave the alderman's walk
for the garden-walk."

"All I regret," said the honest glutton, stoutly, "is that I go without
carving for Mrs. Vane."

"You are very good, Sir John; I will be more troublesome to you at
supper-time."

When they were all gone, she couldn't help sighing. It almost seemed as
if everybody was kinder to her than he whose kindness alone she valued.
"And he must take Lady Betty's hand instead of mine," thought she. "But
that is good breeding, I suppose. I wish there was no such thing; we
are very happy without it in Shropshire." Then this poor little soul was
ashamed of herself, and took herself to task. "Poor Ernest," said she,
pitying the wrongdoer, like a woman, "he was not pleased to be so taken
by surprise. No wonder; they are so ceremonious in London. How good of
him not to be angry!" Then she sighed; her heart had received a damp.
His voice seemed changed, and he did not meet her eyes with the look he
wore at Willoughby. She looked timidly into the garden. She saw the gay
colors of beaux, as well as of belles--for in these days broadcloth had
not displaced silk and velvet--glancing and shining among the trees; and
she sighed, but, presently brightening up a little, she said: "I will go
and see that the coffee is hot and clear, and the chocolate well mixed
for them." The poor child wanted to do something to please her husband.
Before she could carry out this act of domestic virtue, her attention
was drawn to a strife of tongues in the hall. She opened the
folding-doors, and there was a fine gentleman obstructing the entrance
of a somber, rusty figure, with a portfolio and a manuscript under each