_Miss Spelw._ I'll try, dear Lady CULVERIN. And if my poor little persuasions have no effect, I shall fall back on Lady CANTIRE, and then he _can't_ refuse. I must go and tell dear Lady LULLINGTON--she'll be so pleased! (_To herself, as she skims away._) I generally _do_ get my own way. But I mean him to do it to please _Me_! _Mrs. Chatteris_ (_a little later, to_ Lady MAISIE). Have you heard what a treat is in store for us? That delightful Mr. SPURRELL is going to give us a reading or a recitation, or something, from his own poems; at least, Miss SPELWANE is to ask him as soon as the men come in. Only _I_ should have thought that he would be much more likely to consent if _you_ asked him. _Lady Maisie._ Would you? I'm sure I don't know why. _Mrs. Chatt. (archly)._ Oh, he took me in to dinner, you know, and it's quite wonderful how people confide in me, but I suppose they feel I can be trusted. He mentioned a little fact, which gave me the impression that a certain fair lady's wishes would be supreme with him. _Lady Maisie (to herself)._ The wretch! He _has_ been boasting of my unfortunate letter! (_Aloud._) Mr. SPURRELL had no business to give you any impression of the kind. And the mere fact that I--that I happened to admire his verses---- _Mrs. Chatt._ Exactly! Poets' heads are so easily turned; and, as I said to Captain THICKNESSE---- _Lady Maisie._ Captain THICKNESSE! You have been talking about it--to _him_! _Mrs. Chatt._ I'd no idea you would mind anybody knowing, or I would never have dreamed of----I've such a perfect _horror_ of gossip! It took me so much by surprise, that I simply couldn't resist; but I can easily tell Captain THICKNESSE it was all a mistake; _he_ knows how fearfully inaccurate I always am. _Lady Maisie._ I would rather you said nothing more about it, please; it is really not worth while contradicting anything so utterly absurd. (_To herself._) That GERALD--Captain THICKNESSE--of all people, should know of my letter! And goodness only knows what story she may have made out of it! _Mrs. Chatt. (to herself, as she moves away)._ I've been letting my tongue run away with me, as usual. She's _not_ the original of "Lady Grisoline," after all. Perhaps he meant VIVIEN SPELWANE--the description was much more like _her_! _Pilliner_ (_who has just entered with some of the younger men, to_ Miss SPELWANE). What _are_ you doing with these chairs? Why are we all to sit in a circle, like MOORE and BURGESS people? You're _not_ going to set the poor dear Bishop down to play baby-games? How perfectly barbarous of you! _Miss Spelw._ The chairs are being arranged for something much more intellectual. We are going to get Mr. SPURRELL to read a poem to us, if you want to know. I _told_ you I should manage it.