myself that, when I am coming back from the Drawing Room,° I always feel as if I hadn’t a shred on me, except a small shred of decent reputation, just enough to prevent the lower classes making painful observations through the windows of the carriage. The fact is that our Society is terribly over-populated. Really, someone should arrange a proper scheme of assisted emigration.° It would do a great deal of good.

Mrs Cheveley I quite agree with you, Lady Markby. It is nearly six years since I have been in London for the Season, and I must say Society has become dreadfully mixed. One sees the oddest people everywhere.

Lady Markby That is quite true, dear. But one needn’t know them. I’m sure I don’t know half the people who come to my house. Indeed, from all I hear, I shouldn’t like to.

Enter Mason

Lady Chiltern What sort of a brooch was it that you lost, Mrs Cheveley?

Mrs Cheveley A diamond snake-brooch with a ruby, a rather large ruby.

Lady Markby I thought you said there was a sapphire on the head, dear?

Mrs Cheveley (smiling) No, Lady Markby—a ruby.

Lady Markby (nodding her head) And very becoming, I am quite sure.

Lady Chiltern Has a ruby and diamond brooch been found in any of the rooms this morning, Mason?

Mason No, my lady.

Mrs Cheveley It really is of no consequence, Lady Chiltern. I am so sorry to have put you to any inconvenience.

Lady Chiltern (coldly) Oh, it has been no inconvenience. That will do, Mason. You can bring tea.

Exit Mason

Lady Markby Well, I must say it is most annoying to lose anything. I remember once at Bath,° years ago, losing in the Pump Room an exceedingly handsome cameo bracelet that Sir John had given me. I don’t think he has ever given me anything since, I am sorry to say. He has sadly degenerated. Really, this horrid House of Commons quite ruins our husbands for us. I think the Lower House by far the greatest blow to a happy married life that there has been since that terrible thing called the Higher Education of Women was invented.

Lady Chiltern Ah! it is heresy to say that in this house, Lady Markby. Robert is a great champion of the Higher Education of Women, and so, I am afraid, am I.

Mrs Cheveley The higher education of men is what I should like to see. Men need it so sadly.

Lady Markby They do, dear. But I am afraid such a scheme would be quite unpractical. I don’t think man has much capacity for development. He has got as far as he can, and that is not far, is it? With regard to women, well, dear Gertrude, you belong to the younger generation, and I am sure it is all right if you approve of it. In my time, of course, we were taught not to understand anything. That was the old system, and wonderfully interesting it was. I assure you that the amount of things I and my poor dear sister were taught not to understand was quite extraordinary. But modern women understand everything, I am told.

Mrs Cheveley Except their husbands. That is the one thing the modern woman never understands.