I reminded myself that, with the exception of Brackenbury Hall, I had not stayed in a country-house for I don't know how long. Nothing, I determined, should surprise me; in Rome... And so forth and so on. We arrived in time for dinner, and almost the first thing I knew was that Sir Adolphus was pressing upon me something which I think he called a "Maiden's Sigh", which of course I imagined was the well-known hock of that name. _Why_ hock before dinner? Sherry, if you like... But I had determined that nothing should surprise me. I drank it--what it contained, I do not know, but it was cold and, I suppose, very strong, for it went _straight_ to my head! I could drink _nothing_ at dinner until I had consumed an entire tumbler of cold water. Indeed, I hardly knew what I was saying, but Sir Adolphus was talking so interestingly about Rossini that I only wanted to listen... Later, when I had proved myself a good listener, it would be my turn to talk about Will... Now, you dine out very much more than I do. On those _rare_ occasions when you meet somebody who _can_ talk, is it not heart-breaking to have the conversation interrupted before you have half finished it? In the old days, when one turned like an automaton to one's other-hand neighbour half-way through dinner, it was sufficiently exasperating; but one _did_ hope that, if one had not wearied one's companion too unwarrantably, he would come up in the drawing-room and resume what he had been saying. Nowadays dinner is little more than a bribe offered to so many women and men to induce them to play bridge with _you_ rather than with some one _else_. The tables were already set, when we left the dining-room; Lady Erskine's last words were: "You won't be long, will you?" I do not play. Even in old days I never mastered whist. And I hope you will not cry "Sour grapes", if I say that I do not _wish_ to learn. I ask nothing better than a little music after dinner. If not too modern, it does not interfere with conversation, whereas the sight of a card-table freezes the most eloquent lips... "What about a rubber before the others come up?," asked one of these young actresses. I had not caught her name and perhaps I am doing her a grave injustice; but, if I had not Lady Erskine's implied guarantee, I should have considered her... Well, let me say I should have been _very_ much surprised at being asked to meet her... "I am afraid you must not count on me," I said. The young woman reckoned up the numbers present and asked: "What about poker, then?" Here, I am thankful to say, Lady Erskine came to my rescue, and we contrived to exist with nothing more exciting than conversation until the men joined us. Then, I think, something must have been whispered to Sir Adolphus, for he said: "I don't think we'll have any cards to-night; they're so unsociable."