es
uttered them they were eloquent; there was a cheerful variety of
dispraise skillfully thrown into each of them.

"Well," continued Soaper, with his everlasting smile.

Then the fun began.

"May I be permitted to ask whose portrait this is?" said Mr. Cibber
slyly.

"I distinctly told you, it was to be Peg Woffington's," said Mrs. Clive.
"I think you might take my word."

"Do you act as truly as you paint?" said Quin.

"Your fame runs no risk from me, sir!" replied Triplet.

"It is not like Peggy's beauty! Eh?" rejoined Quin.

"I can't agree with you," cried Kitty Clive. "I think it a very pretty
face; and not at all like Peg Woffington's."

"Compare paint with paint," said Quin. "Are you sure you ever saw down
to Peggy's real face?"

Triplet had seen with alarm that Mr. Snarl spoke not; many satirical
expressions crossed his face, but he said nothing. Triplet gathered from
this that he had at once detected the trick. "Ah!" thought Triplet, "he
means to quiz them, as well as expose me. He is hanging back; and, in
point of fact, a mighty satirist like Snarl would naturally choose to
quiz six people rather than two."

"Now I call it beautiful!" said the traitor Soaper. "So calm and
reposeful; no particular expression."

"None whatever," said Snarl.

"Gentlemen," said Triplet, "does it never occur to you that the fine
arts are tender violets, and cannot blow when the north winds--"

"Blow!" inserted Quin.

"Are so cursed cutting?" continued Triplet.

"My good sir, I am never cutting!" smirked Soaper. "My dear Snarl,"
whined he, "give us the benefit of your practiced judgment. Do justice
to this ad-mirable work of art," drawled the traitor.

"I will!" said Mr. Snarl; and placed himself before the picture.

"What on earth will he say?" thought Triplet. "I can see by his face he
has found us out."

Mr. Snarl delivered a short critique. Mr. Snarl's intelligence was
not confined to his phrases; all critics use intelligent phrases and
philosophical truths. But this gentleman's manner was very intelligent;
it was pleasant, quiet, assured, and very convincing. Had the reader or
I been there, he would have carried us with him, as he did his hearers;
and as his successors carry the public with them now.

"Your brush is by no means destitute of talent, Mr. Triplet," said
Mr. Snarl. "But you are somewhat deficient, at present, in the great
principles of your art; the first of which is a loyal adherence to
t