WOFF. Yes; that friendless orange girl was Margaret Woffington! Well, old friend, you see time has treated me well. I hope he has been as kind to you; tell me, Mr. Triplet.
TRIP. (aside). I must put the best face on it with her. Yes, madam, he has blessed me with an excellent wife and three charming children. Mrs. Triplet was Mrs. Chatterton, of Goodman’s Fields—great in the juvenile parts—you remember her?
WOFF. (very drily). Yes, I remember her; where is she acting?
TRIP. Why, the cares of our family—and then her health (sighs). She has not acted these eight months.
WOFF. Ah!—and are you still painting scenes?
TRIP. With the pen, madam, not the brush! as the wags said, I have transferred the distemper from my canvas to my imagination, ha! ha!
WOFF. (aside). This man is acting gaiety. And have your pieces been successful?
TRIP. Eminently so—in the closet; the managers have as yet excluded them from the stage.
WOFF. Ah! now if those things were comedies, I would offer to act in one of them, and then the stage door would fly open at sight of the author.