“What a terrible vengeance!” cried the actress, raising her hands, while a mock expression of terror came over her face. “You would fain prove yourself the most cruel of men because you account me the most cruel of women? Ah, sir, you are ungenerous; I am but a poor weak creature, while you—”
“I am weak enough to be your slave, but let me tell you, madam, I am quite strong enough to throw off your bonds should I fail to be treated with some consideration,” said Lewis.
“Oh, so far as I am concerned you may take your freedom to-morrow,” laughed Mrs. Abington. “The fetters that I weave are of silken thread.”
“I would rather wear your fetters, though they be of iron, than those of the next loveliest woman to you, though hers should be a chain of roses,” said the actor. “Come, now, my dear lady, listen to reason.”
“Gladly; 't will be a change from your usual discourse, which is of love—just the opposite, you know.”
“Why will you not consent to come with me to Vauxhall once more?”
“La, sir, think of the scandal? Have not we been seen there together half a dozen times?”
“Scandal! Do you think that the scandal-mongers can add anything to what they have already said regarding us?”
“I place no limits on the imagination of the scandal-monger, sir, but I desire to assign a limit to my own indiscretions, which, I fear, have set tongues wagging—”
“Pooh! my dear madam, cannot you see that tongues will wag all the faster if I appear at the Gardens with some one else?”