There was a pause, in which I cast about me for some way of escape. I felt that my interest in Lady Bandobust was exhausted, and that I could not pretend to entertain her scheme any longer with self-respect. Besides, by this time I cordially hated her. But I could think of no formula to retreat under, and resigned myself to sit there helplessly, and defend myself as best I could, until I was dismissed. Lady Bandobust produced her last card. 'The Duchess of Dudlington gives a fête on the twelfth,' she said, throwing it, as it were, upon the table. 'I should probably be able to take you there.' 'The Duchess of Dudlington?' said I, in pure stupidity. 'Yes. And she is rather partial to Americans, for some extraordinary reason or another.' The conversation flagged again. 'Presentation--if that is what you are thinking of--would be extra, Miss Wick,' Lady Bandobust stated, firmly. 'Oh'--how much extra, Lady Bandobust?' My prospective patroness did not hesitate a minute. 'Fifty pounds,' she said, and looked at me inquiringly. 'I--I don't think I was thinking of it, Lady Bandobust,' I said. I felt mean, as we say in America. 'You were not! Well,' said she, judicially, 'I don't know that I would advise the outlay. It is a satisfactory thing to have done, of course, but not nearly so essential as it used to be--nothing like. You can get on without it. And, as you say, fifty pounds is fifty pounds.' I knew I hadn't said that, but found it impossible to assert the fact. 'Miss Boningsbill, whom I took out last season, I did present,' Lady Bandobust continued; 'but she went in for everything--perhaps more extensively than you would be disposed to do. It might facilitate matters--give you an idea, perhaps--if I were to tell you my arrangements with Miss Boningsbill.' 'I should like to hear them,' I said. 'She did not live with me--of course, chaperonage does not imply residence, you understand that. When she went out with me she called for me in her brougham. She had a brougham by the month, and a landau for the park. I should distinctly advise you to do the same. I would, in fact, make the arrangement for you. I know a very reliable man.' Lady Bandobust paused for my thanks. 'Generally speaking, Miss Boningsbill and I went out together; but when I found this particularly inconvenient, she took one carriage and I the other, though she always had her choice. I stipulated only to take her to the park twice a week, but if nothing interfered I went oftener. Occasionally I took her to the play--that bores me, though. I hope you are not particularly fond of the theatre. And then she usually found it less expensive to get a box, as there were generally a few other people who could be asked with advantage--friends of my own.' 'She had a box at Ascot, too, of course,' Lady Bandobust went on, looking down her nose at a fly in the corner of the window-pane; 'but that is a matter of detail.'