_Miss Spelwane_ (_to herself_). He brings his literary disappointments to _me_, not Maisie! (_Aloud, with the sweetest sympathy._) How dreadfully unjust! Oh, I've dropped my fan--no, pray don't trouble; I can pick it up. My arms are so long, you know--like a kangaroo's--no, what is that animal which has such long arms? You're so clever, you _ought_ to know! _Spurrell._ I suppose you mean a gorilla? _Miss Spelwane._ How crushing of you! But you must go away now, or else you'll find nothing to say to me at dinner--you take me in, you know. I hope you feel privileged. _I_ feel---- But if I told you, I might make you too conceited! _Spurrell_ (_gracefully_). Oh, it's not so easily done as all _that_! [Sir RUPERT _approaches with_ Mr. SHORTHORN. _Sir Rupert._ Vivien, my dear, let me introduce Mr. Shorthorn--Miss Spelwane. (_To_ SPURRELL.) Let me see--ha--yes, you take in Mrs. Chatteris. Don't know her? Come this way, and I'll find her for you. [_He marches_ SPURRELL _off_. _Mr. Shorthorn_ (_to_ Miss SPELWANE). Good thing getting this rain at last; a little more of this dry weather and we should have had no grass to speak of! _Miss Spelwane_ (_who has not quite recovered from her disappointment_). And now you _will_ have some grass to speak of? _How_ fortunate! _Spurrell_ (_as dinner is announced, to_ Lady MAISIE). I say, Lady Maisie, I've just been told I've got to take in a married lady. _I_ don't know what to talk to her about. I should feel a lot more at home with you. Couldn't we work it somehow? _Lady Maisie_ (_to herself_). What a fearful suggestion--but I simply _daren't_ snub him! (_Aloud._) I'm afraid, Mr. Spurrell, we must both put up with the partners we have; most distressing, isn't it--_but_! [_She gives a little shrug._ _Captain Thicknesse_ (_immediately behind her, to himself_). Gad, _that's_ pleasant! I knew I'd better have gone to Aldershot! (_Aloud._) I've been told off to take you in, Lady Maisie--not _my_ fault, don't you know. _Lady Maisie._ There's no need to be so apologetic about it. (_To herself._) Oh, I _hope_ he didn't hear what I said to that wretch! _Captain Thicknesse._ Well, I rather thought there _might_ be, perhaps. _Lady Maisie_ (_to herself_). He _did_ hear it. If he's going to be so stupid as to misunderstand, I'm sure _I_ shan't explain. [_They take their place in the procession to the dining-hall._ PART X BORROWED PLUMES _In_ UNDERSHELL'S _Bedroom in the East Wing at Wyvern_. TIME--_About_ 9 P.M. _The Steward's Room Boy_ (_knocking and entering_). Brought you up some 'ot water, sir, case you'd like to clean up afore supper. _Undershell._ I presume evening dress is not indispensable in the housekeeper's room; but I can hardly make even the simplest toilet until you are good enough to bring up my portmanteau. Where is it? _Boy._ I never 'eard nothink of no porkmanteau, sir!