_Mrs. Earwaker._ Yes, dear Lady Lullington, I've always insisted on each of my girls adopting a distinct line of her own, and the result has been _most_ satisfactory. Louisa, my eldest, is literary; she had a little story accepted not long ago by _The Milky Way_; then Maria is musical--practices regularly three hours every day on her violin. Fanny has become quite an expert in photography--kodaked her father the other day in the act of trying a difficult stroke at billiards; a back view--but _so_ clever and characteristic! _Lady Lullington_ (_absently_). A back view? How _nice_! _Mrs. Earwaker._ He was the only one of the family who didn't recognize it at once. Then my youngest Caroline--well, I must say that for a long time I was quite in despair about Caroline. It really looked as if there was no single thing that she had the slightest bent or inclination for. So at last I thought she had better take up religion, and make _that_ her speciality. _Lady Lullington_ (_languidly_). Religion! How _very_ nice! _Mrs. Earwaker._ Well, I got her a _Christian Year_ and a covered basket, and quantities of tracts, and so on; but, somehow, she didn't seem to get _on_ with it. So I let her give it up; and now she's gone in for poker-etching instead. _Lady Lullington_ (_by an act of unconscious cerebration_). Poker-etching! How very, _very_ nice! [_Her eyelids close gently._ _Lady Rhoda._ Oh, but indeed, Lady Culverin, I thought he was perfectly charmin': not a bit booky, you know, but as clever as he can stick; knows more about terriers than any man I ever met! _Lady Culverin._ So glad you found him agreeable, my dear. I was half afraid he might strike you as--well, just a little bit _common_ in his way of talking. _Lady Rhoda._ P'raps--but, after all, one can't expect those sort of people to talk quite like we do ourselves, _can_ one? _Lady Cantire._ Is that Mr. Spurrell you are finding fault with, Albinia? It is curious that _you_ should be the one person here who---- I consider him a very worthy and talented young man, and I shall most certainly ask him to dinner--or _lunch_, at all events--as soon as we return. I dare say Lady Rhoda will not object to come and meet him. _Lady Rhoda._ Rather not. _I_'ll come, like a shot! _Lady Culverin_ (_to herself_). I suppose it's very silly of me to be so prejudiced. Nobody else seems to mind him! _Miss Spelwane_ (_crossing over to them_). Oh, Lady Culverin, Lady Lullington has such a _delightful_ idea--she's just been saying how very, very nice it would be if Mr. Spurrell could be persuaded to read some of his poetry aloud to us presently. _Do_ you think it could be managed? _Lady Culverin_ (_in distress_). Really, my dear Vivien, I--I don't know _what_ to say. I fancy people would so _much_ rather talk--don't you think so, Rohesia?