_Captain Thicknesse._ They'll be bringing some round in another minute. _Archie._ Prefer my own. (_To himself, as he leaves the hall._) I knew I was right. That bounder _is_ meaning to scribble some rot about us all! He's goin' straight up to his room to do it.... Well, he may find a little surprise when he gets there! _Captain Thicknesse_ (_to himself_). Mustn't let this poet fellow think I'm jealous; dare say, after all, there's nothing serious between them. Not that it matters to me; any way, I may as well talk to him. I wonder if he knows anything about steeplechasin'. [_He discovers that_ SPURRELL _is not unacquainted with this branch of knowledge_. _In a Corridor leading to the Housekeeper's Room._ TIME--9.30 P.M. _Undershell_ (_to himself_). If I wasn't absolutely compelled by sheer hunger, I would not touch a morsel in this house. But I can't get my things back till after ten. As soon as ever I do, I will insist on a conveyance to the nearest inn. In the meantime I must sup. After all, no one need know of this humiliating adventure. And if I _am_ compelled to consort with these pampered menials, I think I shall know how to preserve my dignity--even while adapting myself to their level. And that girl will be there--a distinctly redeeming fact in the situation. I will be easy--affable, even; I will lay aside all foolish pride; it would be unreasonable to visit their employer's snobbery upon their unoffending heads. I hear conversation inside this room. This must be the door. I--I suppose I had better go in. [_He enters._ PART XII DIGNITY UNDER DIFFICULTIES _In the Housekeeper's Room at Wyvern_; Mrs. POMFRET, _the Housekeeper, in a black silk gown and her smartest cap, is seated in a winged armchair by the fire, discussing domestic politics with_ Lady CULVERIN'S _maid_, Miss STICKLER. _The Chef_, M. RIDEVOS, _is resting on the sofa, in languid converse with_ Mlle. CHIFFON, Miss SPELWANE'S _maid_; PILLINER'S _man_, LOUCH, _watches_ STEPTOE, Sir RUPERT'S _valet, with admiring envy, as he makes himself agreeable to_ Miss PHILLIPSON, _who is in demi-toilette, as are all the other ladies' maids present_. _Miss Stickler_ (_in an impressive undertone_). All I _do_ say, Mrs. Pomfret, ma'am, is this: if that girl Louisa marches into the pew to-morrow, as she did _last_ Sunday, before the second laundry maid--and her only under-scullery maid--such presumptiousness should be put a stop to in future! _Mrs. Pomfret_ (_wheezily_). Depend upon it, my dear, it's her ignorance; but I shall most certainly speak about it. Girls must be taught that ranks was made to be respected, and the precedency into that pew has come down from time immemoriable, and is not to be set aside by such as her while _I_'m 'ousekeeper here. _Mlle. Chiffon_ (_in French, to_ M. RIDEVOS). You have the air fatigued, my poor friend! Oh, there--but fatigued!