Lady Caroline She certainly has a wonderful faculty of remembering people’s names, and forgetting their faces.

Lady Hunstanton Well, that is very natural, Caroline, is it not? (To Footman) Tell Henry to wait for an answer. I have written a line to your dear mother, Gerald, to tell her your good news, and to say she really must come to dinner.

Exit Footman

Gerald That is awfully kind of you, Lady Hunstanton. (To Hester) Will you come for a stroll, Miss Worsley?

Hester With pleasure.

Exit with Gerald

Lady Hunstanton I am very much gratified at Gerald Arbuthnot’s good fortune. He is quite a protégé of mine. And I am particularly pleased that Lord Illingworth should have made the offer of his own accord without my suggesting anything. Nobody likes to be asked favours. I remember poor Charlotte Pagden making herself quite unpopular one season, because she had a French governess she wanted to recommend to everyone.

Lady Caroline I saw the governess, Jane. Lady Pagden sent her to me. It was before Eleanor came out.° She was far too good-looking to be in any respectable household. I don’t wonder Lady Pagden was so anxious to get rid of her.

Lady Hunstanton Ah, that explains it.

Lady Caroline John, the grass is too damp for you. You had better go and put on your overshoes at once.

Sir John I am quite comfortable, Caroline, I assure you.

Lady Caroline You must allow me to be the best judge of that, John. Pray do as I tell you.

Sir John gets up and goes off

Lady Hunstanton You spoil him, Caroline, you do indeed!

Enter Mrs Allonby° and Lady Stutfield

(To Mrs Allonby) Well, dear, I hope you like the park. It is said to be well timbered.

Mrs Allonby The trees are wonderful, Lady Hunstanton.

Lady Stutfield Quite, quite wonderful.°

Mrs Allonby But somehow, I feel sure that if I lived in the country for six months, I should become so unsophisticated that no one would take the slightest notice of me.

Lady Hunstanton I assure you, dear, that the country has not that effect at all. Why, it was from Melthorpe, which is only two miles from here, that Lady Belton eloped with Lord Fethersdale. I remember the occurrence perfectly. Poor Lord Belton died three days afterwards of joy, or gout. I forget which. We had a large party staying here at the time, so we were all very much interested in the whole affair.

Mrs Allonby I think to elope is cowardly. It’s running away from danger. And danger has become so rare in modern life.