_Professor_. "No, no, not _always_, Mrs. Bright. At _most_ houses I
positively have to drag her away!"

"Truths that might have been left unspoken":

_Hostess_. "What? haven't you brought your sisters, Mr. Jones?"

_Mr. Jones_. "No, they couldn't come, Mrs. Smith. The fact is,
they're saving themselves for Mrs. Brown's Dance to-morrow, you
know!" (_January_ 9, 1886).

Under the heading "Feline Amenities":

_Fair Hostess_ (to Mrs. Masham, who is looking her very best).
"How-dy-do, dear? I hope you're not so tired as you look!"

_Sympathetic Lady Guest_. "Don't be unhappy about the rain, dear
Mrs. Bounderson--it will soon be over, and your garden will be
lovelier than ever."

_Little Mrs. Goldmore Bounderson_ (who is giving her first Garden
Party). "Yes; but I'm afraid it will keep my most desirable guests
from coming!"

This last duologue is pure du Maurier. It is subtle.

"Feline Amenities" again:

"How kind of you to call--I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"