* * * * * [Illustration: A REASON FOR CALLING _Visitor_ (_naïvely_). “Well, I certainly never dreamt I should find you at home on such a lovely afternoon as this!”] * * * * * FOR CHARITY’S SAKE SCENE--_The Park._ TIME--_The Fashionable Morning Hour._ LUI _and_ ELLE _discovered enjoying a_ causerie. _Elle._ Oh, it will be quite gay! Admission five guineas and ten pounds a seat at the tea-tables. The Organising Committee have rented the Anthropological Gardens. _Lui._ Any kind of entertainment? _Elle._ Oh, yes. We have got Mr. Barnstormer for a recitation and Di Flop for one of her great songs with a chorus for nothing, and Scrapini, the violinist, is to bring his violin. _Lui._ Also for nothing? _Elle._ Of course. Such an excellent advertisement for them. And then there are to be lamps on the artificial lake and fireworks--small ones that won’t frighten the horses outside--on the terrace. Two guineas a seat for places in front of the fireworks, and five shillings entrance-fee to the avenue of Japanese lanterns. _Lui._ Well, you ought to rake in the shekels. And what is it for? What’s the name of the Charity? _Elle._ I quite forget. But you will find it on the tickets. [_The talk drifts to other topics._ * * * * * UNLUCKY SPEECHES “What a lot of people there were at the Wortleburys’ last week--and yet how dull it was!” “Yes, dear. But it was much brighter after you left.” * * * * * _She._ “Oh, Mr. Sorney, I am so grateful to you for your thoughtfulness in writing so promptly to tell me of poor Harry’s accident!” _He._ “Pray don’t mention it--I was very glad indeed to have the opportunity of doing it!” * * * * * _Host._ “You’ll have a nice drive home!” _Guest._ “Yes; that’s the best of it!” * * * * * [Illustration: Horrible position of little Biffin, who proposes a new round game. But when he has to explain, he finds he cannot recollect anything at all about it!] * * * * * [Illustration: RATHER DIFFICULT FOR HIM _Jones._ “I am never at a loss in conversation.” _His Fair Hostess._ “But surely, Mr. Jones, there must be _some_ subjects you don’t understand. What do you do then?” _Jones._ “Oh, _then_--I say nothing, and look intelligent.”] * * * * * [Illustration: INGRATITUDE _Nervous Youth_ (_to charming girl, who has been trying to set him at his ease_). “He, he! I always--ha--feel rather shy with pretty girls, y’know, but I’m _quite_ at home with you!”] * * * * * [Illustration: “Oh, Miss Brown, I was _so_ sorry I didn’t see you when you called the other day. I had such a dreadful headache that I had to tell my maid I was not at home to any of my friends. But of course I should have seen _you_!”]