LADY HUNSTANTON. I fancy, Caroline, that Diplomacy is what Lord Illingworth is aiming at. I heard that he was offered Vienna. But that may not be true. LADY CAROLINE. I don’t think that England should be represented abroad by an unmarried man, Jane. It might lead to complications. LADY HUNSTANTON. You are too nervous, Caroline. Believe me, you are too nervous. Besides, Lord Illingworth may marry any day. I was in hopes he would have married Lady Kelso. But I believe he said her family was too large. Or was it her feet? I forget which. I regret it very much. She was made to be an ambassador’s wife. LADY CAROLINE. She certainly has a wonderful faculty of remembering people’s names, and forgetting their faces. LADY HUNSTANTON. Well, that is very natural, Caroline, is it not? [_To Footman_.] Tell Henry to wait for an answer. I have written a line to your dear mother, Gerald, to tell her your good news, and to say she really must come to dinner. [_Exit Footman_.] GERALD. That is awfully kind of you, Lady Hunstanton. [_To_ HESTER.] Will you come for a stroll, Miss Worsley? HESTER. With pleasure. [_Exit with_ GERALD.] LADY HUNSTANTON. I am very much gratified at Gerald Arbuthnot’s good fortune. He is quite a _protégé_ of mine. And I am particularly pleased that Lord Illingworth should have made the offer of his own accord without my suggesting anything. Nobody likes to be asked favours. I remember poor Charlotte Pagden making herself quite unpopular one season, because she had a French governess she wanted to recommend to every one. LADY CAROLINE. I saw the governess, Jane. Lady Pagden sent her to me. It was before Eleanor came out. She was far too good-looking to be in any respectable household. I don’t wonder Lady Pagden was so anxious to get rid of her. LADY HUNSTANTON. Ah, that explains it. LADY CAROLINE. John, the grass is too damp for you. You had better go and put on your overshoes at once. SIR JOHN. I am quite comfortable, Caroline, I assure you. LADY CAROLINE. You must allow me to be the best judge of that, John. Pray do as I tell you. [SIR JOHN _gets up and goes off_.] LADY HUNSTANTON. You spoil him, Caroline, you do indeed! [_Enter_ MRS. ALLONBY _and_ LADY STUTFIELD.] [_To_ MRS. ALLONBY.] Well, dear, I hope you like the park. It is said to be well timbered. MRS. ALLONBY. The trees are wonderful, Lady Hunstanton. LADY STUTFIELD. Quite, quite wonderful. MRS. ALLONBY. But somehow, I feel sure that if I lived in the country for six months, I should become so unsophisticated that no one would take the slightest notice of me.