"Why do you call it poor? And am I not to read it?"
"No, no. Not a line. You would think it tedious. I'll wait for Mr. Gay's opinion, and if that's favourable I would like with your permission to introduce a part for you."
"What, in a tragedy? I can't see myself trying to make people weep."
"But it wouldn't be a tragic part. While we've been talking it has occurred to me that the play would be improved by a little comedy."
"Yes," rejoined Lavinia eagerly, "by a character something like Cherry in the 'Beaux Stratagem?'"
"H'm," rejoined Vane. "Not quite so broad and vivacious as Cherry. That would be out of keeping."
"I'd dearly love to play Cherry," said Lavinia meditatively.
"You'd be admirable I doubt not, but——"
"Would the part you'd introduce have a song in it?"
"H'm," coughed the dramatist again. "Hardly. There are no songs in tragedies."