Peg Woffington

a work, which was to take the family out of all its troubles, he should gradually unfold a tale, verging on the marvelous-a tale whose only fault was, that fiction, by which alone the family co

de it appear, to all but Mrs. Triplet, that he was under the tutela, or express protection of Mrs. Woffingt

"You have brought the pict

She is going to g

ay?" said Mrs. Triplet,

eplied Triplet, avoi

would rather you had brought me the ten s

comedies are not written." He scribbled away; but his wife's despondency told

hildren quiet!"

ther write. Comedy seems to give you more troub

t I have got a bright thought, Mrs. Triplet. Listen, all of you. You see, Jane,

hree sorts of fish? I will; they are cheap in this market. Ah! Fortune, you wretch, here at least I am your master, and I'll make you know it-venis

, I am s

the comedy, but fr

m I," cri

Triplet with a suspicious calmness. "How can

re was no breakfa

I am to write comic scenes if you let Lysimachus and Ro

the poor thin

n, and paralyze it, just when it is going to make all our fortunes; but you women," snapped Triplet

taking this turn, the bra

g down here, all gayety" (scratching wildly with his pen) "and hilarity" (scratch) "to write a com-com-" he choked a moment; then in

his knee, pressed her gently to his side,

five, the germ of a woma

ing his sister's cue; then going upon his own tact he ad

ive me mad!" and he

mother, sotto voce: "Mother, he

ook," said Lucy. "Is

l trace of ill-humor gone. "Wife," he resumed, afte

quite cheered me up with thinking that w

decency are before everything,' says he. 'My congregation expect to go to heaven down hill. Perhaps the chaplain of Newgate might give you a crown for it,' said he," and Trip

expect anything but fine words from that woman? You won't believe

the poor, honest fellow. "I spo

me at all-a sick, useless creature. I often wish to die, for your s

o the woman, and took her forehead to his bosom, and held it th

ne on the fid

That helps you oft

ame out so doleful, that he shook his head, and laid the instrument down. Mus

ause I forgot to invoke the comic muse. She must be a black-hearted jade, if she doesn't

," said the woman. "We must pray to Heav

h a very bad expressi

our street is very narrow, and th

am

at honest folk endure in so dark a ho

, with fear and sorrow,

d flung his pen

honesty a fair

higher than the sky; children," said she, lest perchance her husband's words should have harmed the

my children offended Heaven? They will starve-they will die! If I was Heaven, I'd be just, and send an angel to take these children's part. They cried to me for bread-I had no bread; so

restraint. The children cried round him, scarce knowing why; and Mrs. Triplet cou

and with a light step entered the apartment; but no sooner had she caught sight of Tripl

n, whose lynx eye had comprehended all at a glance, and who had d

et;" and she showed him a note, which said: "Madam, you are an ang

on planted herself in the middle of the floor, and with a comi

other angel-there ar

th a basket; she

one, that drove him to the wall; "and wait ou

ld began to thaw beneath that witching, irresistible smile. "Mrs. Triplet, I have come to give your husband a sitting; will you allow me to eat my little luncheon wi

des, "will the lady gi

de boy!" crie

children, shall we cut out seven, or nine? that is the question. You can't bring your armies into our drawing-rooms, Mr. Dagger-and-bowl. Are you the Marlborough of

t, deprecatingly "upon my honor," said he,

ody." Then she wrote ("business." Araminta looks out of the garret window. Combatants drop their swords, put

I

children run t

ing). "Madam, I-can't

-four knives, quicker! Forty-eight forks quickest!" She met the children with the cloth and laid it; then she met them again and laid knives an

our coat, Mr. Tripl

t. "My coa

to the lady, young gentleman. Fire away, Mr. Triplet, never mind us women. Woffington's housewife, ma'am, fearful to the eye, only it holds everything in the world, and there is a small space for everythin

dy sews quicker t

near my sword-arm; the needle will go into

made the chi

sy-turvy-father shows Woffington to the door-off she goes with a face as lon

but Lucy, screec

aid gr

e lady is v

nny when you are a

n of humor, and he began to cho

" said Mrs. Triple

look

dam," said he; "but deficien

Jam

ay you have no sense of humo

poor thing can't la

ut she laughs

ne of your trag

don't laugh, it is not for want of the will. I used to be a very h

gton. "Then the next two year

. "That passes the art, e

aid the actr

medy lady. You don't e

nically). "Oh,

is crying. Father cried all t

urned red

ment. Wife, our children talk too much; they put their

spring!" laugh

ce them to the contrary. For instance, madam, all this mo

s, "until the angel came; an

rk my words; we shall never get

t idea into their stomachs." This and the look she cast on Mrs. Triplet fairly caught that good, though

hen their stomachs were full of good food, and the soul of the grape tingled in their veins, and their souls glowed under her great magnetic power, she suddenly seized the fiddle, and showed them another of her enchantments. She put it on her knee, and played a tune that would have made gout, cholic and phthisic dance upon their last legs. She played to the eye as well

kes the barley, ye

s any part of the scene. So then the mover of all this slipped on one side, and let the stone of merriment-roll-and roll it did; there was no swimming, sprawling, or irrelevant frisking; their feet struck the ground for every note of the fiddle, pat as its echo, their faces shone, their hearts leaped, and their poor frozen natures came out, and warmed themselves at the glowing melody; a great sunbeam had come into their abode, and these human motes danced in it. The elder ones recovered their gravity first, they sat down breathless, and put their hands to their hearts; they looked at one another, and then at the goddess who had revived them. Their first feeling was wonder; were they the same, who, ten minutes ago, were weeping together? Yes! t

onor to such creatures as this, that come like sunshine into p

oon changed to gratitude. Mrs. Woff

hem. Tell these brats to kiss me, and let me go. I must sit for

lustered round her, and poured out the

ou after father and

y bread," said Lucy, "because we

grown-up actors, as she called us, but sensitive t

e door was unceremoniously opened, and

d not for the life of him comprehend what she was doing, and what was her ulterior object. The nil

e like Charity, in New College Chapel, while the mother kissed her hand, and the f

th joy and shame. Pomander's genius c

Triplet. "We are aware, sir, of your various talents, and are come to make a demand on them. I, sir, am th

r!" said the g

Venus's noses are snubbed. You must set all

ou wish them to resemble in feature? I have lately been prais

ly, "you need not go far for

and children. Thank

ed; Mrs. Woff

was Van

om your pen. I shall have five p

out!" thought Triplet,

ubject

" said Vane

me hauteur, and assuming poetic omnipotence. "Only, when one kn

u are so confident, u

r. He had in a teacup some lines on Venus and Mars which he could not but feel would fit Thalia and Croesus, or Genius

onth ago he would have hoped she would not have penetrated him

, Mr. Vane," said sh

"How can I ever look

m, I would tell you-what no mortal knows-Ernest, my whole story? I delay the confession. It will cost me so many blushes,

h

ut you? Why suspect me of Heaven knows what, at the dictation of a h

al rebuke. Vane felt what a poor creature he was, and his face showed such

et me make you happy, Ernest. Is that a great favor to ask? I can make you happ

Vane turned his back on Pomand

ed to admit the fine gentleman to the rank of a permanen

e to swell the triumph. "Mr. Vane, good day!" said he, rather dryly. "Mr. Triplet-madam-your

the street, caught sight of a horseman, riding uncertainly

y. The servant sprang off his horse and touched his hat. He informed his master that he had kept with the carriage until t

e?" cried

e squire, Sir Char

hither goes

, Sir Charles. She is

had no husband. No! I wish she came from S

es," said the man, "is no

re. What! eh! Five guineas for you if that

then, Sir Charles, and she i

ave they be

twelve months

n ten guineas instea

, the churchgoer-Mr. Vane, whom Mrs. Woffington had se