Madame Flirt

hich if not quite in the mode were at least fellows. She also cleverly talked the shopk

en made easy. She had had sundry acquaintances among the pretty orange girls who plied their trade at Drury Lane and the Duke's theatres and had got to know how useful Dr. Mountchance was in buying

free in far too familiar a fashion. Lavinia stopped in front of the "Green Dragon" near the Cripples Gate, but hesitated. Many months had passed since the time when she would have boldly walked

thought. "Besides, the

inked at each other when they caught sight of her pretty face, but they said no

xcitement, and she knocked at the garret door. It was opened immediately, Lancelot Vane stood in the doorw

bedraggled, woe-begone, haggard young man whom she had found in the last stage of misery two hours ago. He had moreover, enlisted the help of the old w

stammered Lavinia quite shyly to her

me the honour to

much trouble. And I'm not hun

a rush basket which the good-natured lan

fe and fork? You can't eat

but the knives are not pairs. I apologise

er. I'm not going

hospitality, remember, but yours.

ht for me. I shall never

I want our first meal together to be in m

per," Lavinia laughingly s

ng a couple of sheets of foolscap he

u see I've put them together," said

must be

had h

time it pained her for it told of days of privation. Before long they were perfectly at ease and merril

l is to come from. I can't expec

n. Didn't ravens feed Elij

lijah. I'm not even a prophe

e plays,

Maiden Head in St. Giles, but unluckily I was persuaded by some friends to see Jack Sheppard's last exploit at Tyburn. I drank too much-I

ile lips were tremulous and the eyes moist and shining. She now knew why Lancelot Vane's features had s

ve the remembrance of her meeting with Gay and his kindness to her,

Mr. Gay?" sai

d Flag, Clare Market-I'll warrant you don't know Clare Market; 'tis a

g. She knew Clare M

im I'd written a play and he said he would like to see it. And then-but you know what happ

"He's the dearest, the kindest, the most generous h

o do so. He must think what he pleased about the adventure which had brought them together. He must have seen her leap from Dorrimore's carriage-nay, he may have caught sight of Dorrimo

then, you're indeed fortunate. I-you've been such a benefacto

Mr. Gay the distinguished poet and dramatist whose latest work, "The Fables," was being talked about at Button's, at Wills', at every coffee-house where

p you," said Lavinia with an air of gracious condescension. The yo

f you have sufficient acquaintance to show him my pla

, you're trying to bribe me with flattery. I warn you it will be of no avail

I'd trust you

n people you know nothing of. But-where

confer upon me. I would dearly love to have

ton, but all the same the pla

rom one of the drawers a manus

don't think you'll have much diff

nscription on the first page. It ran "Love's Bli

tragedy," sh

may that crept over her

t doesn't come until the very

t happen

y love each other until it is too late for them to be u

there any other way? Why could

dn't have bee

t what prevented

oved her, had married another

ave been wiser for her to have left him and run away wit

t makes them cry. How they weep over the sorrows

he play. The title frightens me. I don

age it's different. I'm sorry you don't care

I when I haven't read a line

n to accuse you of being unjust. I ought to have said that you didn't

n't what I think of your play that's of any consequence. It'

e happiest of mortals. Let me wrap

it poor? And am I

it for Mr. Gay's opinion, and if that's favourable I wou

can't see myself tryi

ve been talking it has occurred to me that t

"by a character something like

so broad and vivacious as Cherr

play Cherry," said L

irable I doub

ou'd introduce ha

st again. "Hardly. There a

I love singing. When I'm an actress

not been on

hall be soon. I dre

cause of the escapade on London Bridge. How came she to be alone with a gallant in his carriage at that time of nig

manuscript in a sheet of paper

is impeccable spinster would never condone such an offence as that of which she had been guilty. Neither did Lavinia wish the compromising affair to be known in the schoo

id could not be thought of in her fine clothes. And during the last six months, with good food, regular hours and systematic drilling, she had shot up half a head. She was a grown woman, and she felt instinctively that as such and with the winsom

tieing up the packet speaking to her. Suddenly she became

pardon. You

sking whether I might have the

that's all I can tell you.

te contented with what yo

sure you'll trust me with your pla

d also all the parts written out separately. I wouldn't th

se of his friend, Her Grace

vident relief. Her answer convinced him th

to him and if possible place it in

l you see me again an

rse," said s

re in the dark passage down below they bade each other adieu, he k

ty-stricken Grub Street, and slowly ascende