_Lady S._ Oh, but my dear, of course they do, though only the Editor knows who. But if you like I’ll talk to him about you two, and say that you would prefer not to have your names---- _Lady A._ Oh, please no, it _really_ isn’t worth it. No, as far as I am concerned personally---- _Mrs. T._ It seems to me it would be a pity to make a fuss about it. After all, it doesn’t do one any harm. So please don’t trouble, darling. _Lady S._ My dear, it’s no trouble. I shall be seeing him this evening, anyhow. So I’ll just tell him---- _Lady A._ I beg that you will do nothing of the kind. I particularly dislike asking favours from people of that class. Don’t you think we might begin our rubber? _Lady S._ Perhaps that _would_ be the best solution. Unless you like to pay him _not_ to put your names in. You might do that, you know--for a change. _Lady A._ You don’t mean to imply---- _Lady S._ My dear, not for worlds! Some do, and some don’t. But of _course_ you and Edith---- _E. C._ Don’t! Let’s cut. [_They cut for partners in silence._ * * * * * [Illustration: HAVING A GOOD TIME _Mamma._ “It’s very late, Emily. Has anybody taken you down to supper?” _Fair Débutante_ (_who has a fine healthy appetite_). “Oh yes, mamma--several people!”] * * * * * [Illustration: _Hostess._ “I’ve got _such_ a cold to-day. I feel quite _stupid_!” _Prize Idiot_ (_calling_). “I’ve got a bad cold too; but _I_ don’t feel particularly stupid!” _Hostess._ “Ah, I see you’re not quite yourself!”] * * * * * [Illustration: “FLATTERING UNCTION” _Mrs. Noovoriche._ “Yes, my dears, I gave a hundred guineas for this gown! Pretty figure, isn’t it?”--_Chorus_ (_after due inspection_). “Simply awful!”] * * * * * [Illustration: _Fitz-Noodle_ (_who rather fancies himself as the “Black Prince”_). “By Jove, Miss Renneslaer, how awfully charming!” _Fair American._ “My! What _are_ you? _Canned Lobster?_”] * * * * * [Illustration: THE HEIGHT OF MAGNIFICENCE [_See p. 151_] THE HEIGHT OF MAGNIFICENCE--_Sir Gorgius Midas_. “Hullo! where’s all the rest of yer gone to?” _Head Footman._ “If you please, Sir Gorgius, as it was past two o’clock, and we didn’t know for certain whether you was coming back here, or going to sleep in the City, the hother footmen thought they might go to bed----” _Sir Gorgius._ “‘Thought they might go to bed,’ did they? A pretty state of things, indeed! So that if I’d a’ ’appened to brought ’ome a friend, there’d a’ only been you four to let us hin, hay!” * * * * * [Illustration: AT A LADIES’ CLUB _Guest_ (_who rather fancies himself as a fascinator_). “But although you are all known as men-haters, aren’t there now and again occasions when you find it _very_ hard to live up to your reputation?”]