In his day, an actor who had three words to say, such as, "My lord's carriage is waiting," came on the stage with the right arm thus elevated, delivered his message in the tones of a falling dynasty, wheeled like a soldier, and retired with the left arm pointing to the sky and the right hand extended behind him like a setter's tail.
Left to herself, Mabel was uneasy.

"Ernest is so warm-hearted." This was the way she put it even to herself.

He admired her acting and wished to pay her a compliment.

"What if I carried him the verses ?" She thought she should surely please him by showing she was not the least jealous or doubtful of him.

The poor child wanted so to win a kind look from her husband; but ere she could reach the window Sir Charles Pomander had entered it.
Now Sir Charles was naturally welcome to Mrs.Vane; for all she knew of him was, that he had helped her on the road to her husband.
_Pomander._ "What, madam! all alone here as in Shropshire ?" _Mabel._ "For the moment, sir." _Pomander._ "Force of habit.