Lady Caroline Lord Illingworth remarked to me last night at dinner that the basis of every scandal is an absolutely immoral certainty.

Kelvil Lord Illingworth is, of course, a very brilliant man, but he seems to me to be lacking in that fine faith in the nobility and purity of life which is so important in this century.

Lady Stutfield Yes, quite, quite important, is it not?

Kelvil He gives me the impression of a man who does not appreciate the beauty of our English home- life.° I would say that he was tainted with foreign ideas on the subject.

Lady Stutfield There is nothing, nothing like the beauty of home life, is there?

Kelvil It is the mainstay of our moral system in England, Lady Stutfield. Without it we would become like our neighbours.

Lady Stutfield That would be so, so sad, would it not?

Kelvil I am afraid, too, that Lord Illingworth regards woman simply as a toy. Now, I have never regarded woman as a toy. Woman is the intellectual helpmeet of man in public as in private life. Without her we should forget the true ideals.

Sits down beside Lady Stutfield

Lady Stutfield I am so very, very glad to hear you say that.

Lady Caroline You a married man, Mr Kettle?°

Sir John Kelvil, dear, Kelvil.

Kelvil I am married, Lady Caroline.

Lady Caroline Family?

Kelvil Yes.

Lady Caroline How many?

Kelvil Eight.

Lady Stutfield turns her attention to Lord Alfred

Lady Caroline Mrs Kettle and the children are, I suppose, at the seaside?

Sir John shrugs his shoulders

Kelvil My wife is at the seaside with the children, Lady Caroline.

Lady Caroline You will join them later on, no doubt?

Kelvil If my public engagements permit me.

Lady Caroline Your public life must be a great source of gratification to Mrs Kettle.

Sir John Kelvil, my love, Kelvil.