MABEL (aside). Not my portrait after all. Who?
TRIP. Mrs. Woffington.
MABEL. Woffington? No, there was no such name among the guests Mr. Vane received to-day.
TRIP. That is strange! She was to be here; and therefore I expedited the verses in her honour.
MABEL (ruefully). In her honour?
TRIP. Yes, Madam: the subject is “Genius trampling on Envy.” It begins—(reads). “When first from Albion’s Isle——”
MABEL. Nay, I do not care to hear them, for I do not know the lady.
TRIP. Few really know her; but at least you have seen her act.
MABEL. Act! Is she an actress?
TRIP. An actress, madam! The Actress!—and you have never seen her! Madam, you have a great pleasure before you; to see her act is a privilege, but to act with her, as I once did, though she doesn’t remember it—I was hissed, madam, owing to circumstances which for the credit of our common nature I suppress.