[Sir RUPERT _and various members of the house-party appear one by one_; Lord _and_ Lady LULLINGTON, _the_ Bishop of BIRCHESTER _and_ Mrs. RODNEY, Mr. _and_ Mrs. EARWAKER, _and_ Mr. SHORTHORN _are announced at intervals; salutations, recognitions, and commonplaces are exchanged_. _Lady Cantire_ (_later--to the_ Bishop, _genially_). Ah, my dear Bishop, you and I haven't met since we had our great battle about--now, was it the necessity of throwing open the Public Schools to the lower classes--for whom of course they were originally _intended_--or was it the failure of the Church to reach the working man? I really forget. _The Bishop_ (_who has a holy horror of the_ Countess). I--ah--fear I cannot charge my memory so precisely, my dear Lady Cantire. We--ah--differ unfortunately on so many subjects. I trust, however, we may--ah--agree to suspend hostilities on this occasion? _Lady Cantire_ (_with even more bonhomie_). Don't be too sure of _that_, Bishop. I've several crows to pluck with you, and we are to go in to dinner together, you know! _The Bishop._ Indeed? I had no conception that such a pleasure was in store for me! (_To himself._) This must be the penance for breaking my rule of never dining out on Saturday! Severe--but not unmerited! _Lady Cantire._ I wonder, Bishop, if you have seen this wonderful volume of poetry that every one is talking about--_Andromeda_? _The Bishop_ (_conscientiously_). I chanced only this morning, by way of momentary relaxation, to take up a journal containing a notice of that work, with copious extracts. The impression left on my mind was--ah--unfavourable; a certain talent, no doubt, some felicity of expression, but a noticeable lack of the--ah--reticence, the discipline, the--the scholarly touch which a training at one of our great Public Schools (I forbear to particularise), and at a University, can alone impart. I was also pained to observe a crude discontent with the existing Social System--a system which, if not absolutely perfect, cannot be upset or even modified without the gravest danger. But I was still more distressed to note in several passages a decided taint of the morbid sensuousness which renders so much of our modern literature sickly and unwholesome. _Lady Cantire._ All prejudice, my dear Bishop; why, you haven't even _read_ the book! However, the author is staying here now, and I feel convinced that if you only knew him, you'd alter your opinion. Such an unassuming, inoffensive creature! There, he's just come in. I'll call him over here.... Goodness, why does he shuffle along in that way! _Spurrell_ (_meeting_ Sir RUPERT). Hope I've kept nobody waiting for _me_, Sir Rupert. (_Confidentially._) I'd rather a job to get these things on; but they're really a wonderful fit, considering! [_He passes on, leaving his host speechless._