Presently Canon Spratte went into the smoking-room. He had on his arm, as was his amiable habit, the prettiest girl at the dance, Grace Vizard, a niece of that Lady Vizard who was a pattern of all the proprieties and a devout member of the Church of Rome. He found that Mrs. Crowley and Robert Boulger were already sitting there, and he greeted them courteously. 'I really must have a cigarette,' he said, going up to the table on which were all the necessary things for refreshment. 'If you press me dreadfully I'll have one, too,' said Mrs. Crowley, with a flash of her beautiful teeth. 'Don't press her,' said Bobbie. 'She's had six already, and in a moment she'll be seriously unwell.' 'Well, I'll forego the pressing, but not the cigarette.' Canon Spratte gallantly handed her the box, and gave her a light. 'It's against all my principles, you know,' he smiled. 'What is the use of principles except to give one an agreeable sensation of wickedness when one doesn't act up to them?' The words were hardly out of her mouth when Dick and Lady Kelsey appeared. 'Dear Mrs. Crowley, you're as epigrammatic as a dramatist,' he exclaimed. 'Do you say such things from choice or necessity?' He had arrived late, and this was the first time she had seen him since they had all gone their ways before Whitsun. He mixed himself a whisky and soda. 'After all, is there anything you know so thoroughly insufferable as a ball?' he said, reflectively, as he sipped it with great content. 'Nothing, if you ask me pointblank,' said Lady Kelsey, smiling with relief because he took so flippantly the news she had lately poured into his ear. 'But it's excessively rude of you to say so.' 'I don't mind yours, Lady Kelsey, because I can smoke as much as I please, and keep away from the sex which is technically known as fair.' Mrs. Crowley felt the remark was directed to her. 'I'm sure you think us a vastly overrated institution, Mr. Lomas,' she murmured. 'I venture to think the world was not created merely to give women an opportunity to wear Paris frocks.' 'I'm rather pleased to hear you say that.' 'Why?' asked Dick, on his guard. 'We're all so dreadfully tired of being goddesses. For centuries foolish men have set us up on a pedestal and vowed they were unworthy to touch the hem of our garments. And it _is_ so dull.' 'What a clever woman you are, Mrs. Crowley. You always say what you don't mean.' 'You're really very rude.' 'Now that impropriety is out of fashion, rudeness is the only short cut to a reputation for wit.' Canon Spratte did not like Dick. He thought he talked too much. It was fortunately easy to change the conversation. 'Unlike Mr. Lomas, I thoroughly enjoy a dance,' he said, turning to Lady Kelsey. 'My tastes are ingenuous, and I can only hope you've enjoyed your evening as much as your guests.'