“I thank you, madam,” said Mrs. Woffington, a little touched by this unexpected trait; “but some one must suffer here, and--” Mabel Vane interrupted her. “This would be cruel and base,” said she firmly. “No woman's forehead shall be soiled by me. Oh, madam! beauty is admired, talent is adored; but virtue is a woman's crown. With it, the poor are rich; without it, the rich are poor. It walks through life upright, and never hides its head for high or low.” Her face was as the face of an angel now; and the actress, conquered by her beauty and her goodness, actually bowed her head and gently kissed the hand of the country wife whom she had quizzed a few hours ago. Frailty paid this homage to virtue! Mabel Vane hardly noticed it; her eye was lifted to heaven, and her heart was gone there for help in a sore struggle. “This would be to assassinate you; no less. And so, madam,” she sighed, “with God's help, I do refuse your offer; choosing rather, if needs be, to live desolate, but innocent--many a better than I hath lived so--ay! if God wills it, to die, with my hopes and my heart crushed, but my hands unstained; for so my humble life has passed.” How beautiful, great, and pure goodness is! It paints heaven on the face that has it; it wakens the sleeping souls that meet it. At the bottom of Margaret Woffington's heart lay a soul, unknown to the world, scarce known to herself--a heavenly harp, on which ill airs of passion had been played--but still it was there, in tune with all that is true, pure, really great and good. And now the flush that a great heart sends to the brow, to herald great actions, came to her cheek and brow. “Humble!” she cried. “Such as you are the diamonds of our race. You angel of truth and goodness, you have conquered!” “Oh, yes! yes! Thank God, yes!” “What a fiend I must be could I injure you! The poor heart we have both overrated shall be yours again, and yours for ever. In my hands it is painted glass; in the luster of a love like yours it may become a priceless jewel.” She turned her head away and pondered a moment, then suddenly offered to Mrs. Vane her hand with nobleness and majesty; “Can you trust me?” The actress too was divinely beautiful now, for her good angel shone through her. “I could trust you with my life!” was the reply. “Ah! if I might call you friend, dear lady, what would I not do--suffer--resign--to be worthy that title!” “No, not friend!” cried the warm, innocent Mabel; “sister! I will call you sister. I have no sister.” “Sister!” said Mrs. Woffington. “Oh, do not mock me! Alas! you do not know what you say. That sacred name to me, from lips so pure as yours. Mrs. Vane,” said she, timidly, “would you think me presumptuous if I begged you to--to let me kiss you?” The words were scarce spoken before Mrs. Vane's arms were wreathed round her neck, and that innocent cheek laid sweetly to hers.