Lady Hunstanton Not a party. Only a few guests who are staying in the house, and whom you must know. Allow me. (Tries to help her [with cloak] Rings bell) Caroline, this is Mrs Arbuthnot, one of my sweetest friends. Lady Caroline Pontefract, Lady Stutfield, Mrs Allonby, and my young American friend, Miss Worsley, who has just been telling us all how wicked we are.

Hester I am afraid you think I spoke too strongly, Lady Hunstanton. But there are some things in England—

Lady Hunstanton My dear young lady, there was a great deal of truth, I dare say, in what you said, and you looked very pretty while you said it, which is much more important, Lord Illingworth would tell us. The only point where I thought you were a little hard was about Lady Caroline’s brother, about poor Lord Henry. He is really such good company.

Enter Footman

Take Mrs Arbuthnot’s things.°

Exit Footman with wraps

Hester Lady Caroline, I had no idea it was your brother. I am sorry for the pain I must have caused you—I——

Lady Caroline My dear Miss Worsley, the only part of your little speech, if I may so term it, with which I thoroughly agreed, was the part about my brother. Nothing that you could possibly say could be too bad for him. I regard Henry as infamous, absolutely infamous. But I am bound to state, as you were remarking, Jane, that he is excellent company, and he has one of the best cooks in London, and after a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.

Lady Hunstanton (to Miss Worsley) Now, do come,° dear, and make friends with Mrs Arbuthnot. She is one of the good, sweet, simple people you told us we never admitted into society. I am sorry to say Mrs Arbuthnot comes very rarely to me. But that is not my fault.

Mrs Allonby What a bore it is the men staying so long after dinner! I expect they are saying the most dreadful things about us.

Lady Stutfield Do you really think so?

Mrs Allonby I am sure of it.

Lady Stutfield How very, very horrid of them! Shall we go on to the terrace?

Mrs Allonby Oh, anything to get away from the dowagers and the dowdies. (Rises and goes with Lady Stutfield to door L.C.) We are only going to look at the stars, Lady Hunstanton.

Lady Hunstanton You will find a great many, dear, a great many. But don’t catch cold. (To Mrs Arbuthnot) We shall all miss Gerald so much, dear Mrs Arbuthnot.

Mrs Arbuthnot But has Lord Illingworth really offered to make Gerald his secretary?

Lady Hunstanton Oh, yes! He has been most charming about it. He has the highest possible opinion of your boy. You don’t know Lord Illingworth, I believe, dear.

Mrs Arbuthnot I have never met him.

Lady Hunstanton You know him by name, no doubt?