screen-chair set to face the audience; below it is a smaller seat and, by the side of the smaller seat, another little table with manicure tools, &c. Some framed photographs of ladies hang against the wood-work of the partition and in the wall-spaces; and in the lower and middle windows, on the right, bird-cages are suspended._ _The light is that of a bright day in June._ [_On the right_ MISS CLARIDGE _and_ MISS HUDDLE _are in the final stages of manicuring two smart-looking men. The men occupy the screen-chairs; the manicurists--comely girls in black frocks--sit, facing the men, upon the smaller seats. On the left_ MISS MOON _is rougeing and varnishing the nails of a fashionably-dressed young lady, whose maid is seated at the table in the centre._ MISS LIMBIRD _is at the desk, deep in accounts._ MISS MOON: [_To the young lady._] You won't have them _too_ red, will you? YOUNG LADY. Not too red--nicely flushed. FIRST GENTLEMAN. [_Examining his nails critically as he rises._] I say though, that's a vast improvement! MISS CLARIDGE. Getting more shapely, aren't they? FIRST GENTLEMAN. Thanks awfully. [_He pays_ MISS LIMBIRD, _stands talking to her for a while, and ultimately strolls away through the opening in the partition. After putting her table in order_, MISS CLARIDGE _goes out the same way, carrying her bowl of water and towel._ MISS MOON. [_To the young lady._] Have you had your hand read yet, madam, by any of these palmists? YOUNG LADY. Heavens, yes! I've been twice to that woman Bernstein, and I don't know how often to Chiron. MISS MOON. Ah, you ought to try Valma. YOUNG LADY. Valma? MISS MOON. He's the latest. Ladies are flocking to him. YOUNG LADY. Really? MISS MOON. Yes. Such taking manners. YOUNG LADY. Where does he--? MISS MOON. 186--next door. [_Indicating the window on the left._] You can see his waiting-room from that window. YOUNG LADY. Is he a guinea or half a guinea? MISS MOON. Oh, he's a guinea. YOUNG LADY. That's a bore. MISS MOON. Ah, but consider, madam--his rooms are draped from ceiling to floor in blue velvet. Blue velvet! fancy! Not that I've had the privilege of viewing them myself; Miss F. is our authority. YOUNG LADY. Miss F.? MISS MOON. I beg your pardon--Miss Fullgarney. Valma is quite neighbourly with Miss Fullgarney. [_A door-gong sounds--as it does every time any one enters or quits the establishment--signifying that the first gentleman has departed._ SECOND GENTLEMAN. [_Rising._] Much obliged. [_Putting a tip into_ MISS HUDDLE'S _hand_.] For yourself. MISS HUDDLE. Much obliged to _you_. SECOND GENTLEMAN. You're a fresh face here? MISS HUDDLE. Yes; I used to be with Mossu and Madame Roget in Mortimer Street. SECOND GENTLEMAN. I'll ask for you next time. What name? MISS HUDDLE. Miss Huddle. SECOND GENTLEMAN. Huddle? MISS HUDDLE. Well, p'r'aps you'd better ask for Miss Hud-delle; I fancy Miss Fullgarney is going to alter me to that. SECOND GENTLEMAN.