"Ah, you see I've not had your opportunities for judging," he replied drily, "but as far as I can judge, there's nobody here that isn't somebody." "But their characters," hinted Mrs. Dills, with a seraphic look. "Ah, bah! I'm no Asmodeus to unroof people's houses." "What a lucky thing--for the people." "And what a disappointment--for their friends," said Eustace, significantly. He hated Mrs. Dills, who was an adept at damning with faint praise, and took away people's characters with the look of a four-year-old child and the tongue of a serpent. Mrs. Dills saw Gartney's meaning, and resenting it with all the viciousness of a small mind, began to be nasty. "I see Sir Guy Errington is here," she said, smiling blandly, "as Edgar of Ravenswood. He looks like a thundercloud in black velvet. I'm so sorry for him." "That's really very kind of you," retorted Eustace, sarcastically. "Not at all," murmured Dawn, sympathetically; "it's such a pity to see his infatuation." "For what?" demanded Gartney, obtusely. "Oh, really! You know! of course you do! Poor Lady Errington! And then the 'Other' doesn't care for him." "Little viper," thought Eustace, looking smilingly at her, but saying nothing, which encouraged Mrs. Dills to proceed. "It's a dreadful scandal, but not 'Her' fault--oh, dear no! but he ought to go back to his wife, especially as the 'Other' doesn't care for him." "You talk like a sphinx," said Eustace, coldly. "Whom do you mean by the 'Other'?" Mrs. Dills smiled sweetly, and having finished her supper arose to take his arm. "When one is in Rome, one must not speak evil of the Pope," she replied cleverly. "Are you quite ready, Mrs. Trubbles?" "Quite, my dear," said that matron, who had made an excellent supper. "We'll go back now, Mr. Gartney. Dear me, there's Mr. Thambits. How do you do? What is your character, Mr. Thambits?" "I'm Richard C[oe]ur de Lion," answered Dolly, who looked very ill at ease in his armour, "and Jiddy is Blondel." "Is he really?" said Britannia, poking Jiddy in the back with her trident to make him turn round. "Very nice. I saw Blondin on the tight-rope once." "Not Blondin, but Blondel," explained Jiddy, meekly, "he was a harper, you know, and sang songs." "I hope you don't carry your impersonation so far as that," said Mrs. Dills, spitefully. "I've had singing lessons," began Blondel, indignantly, "and I sing----" "You do, I've heard you," said Eustace, significantly, and then hurried his two ladies quickly back to their seats, being somewhat tired of Mrs. Dills' spiteful tongue and Britannia's ponderous conversation.