LOUIS


"It would be jolly to spend Easter in Vienna this year," said
Strudwarden, "and look up some of my old friends there. It's about the
jolliest place I know of to be at for Easter--"

"I thought we had made up our minds to spend Easter at Brighton,"
interrupted Lena Strudwarden, with an air of aggrieved surprise.

"You mean that you had made up your mind that we should spend Easter
there," said her husband; "we spent last Easter there, and Whitsuntide as
well, and the year before that we were at Worthing, and Brighton again
before that. I think it would be just as well to have a real change of
scene while we are about it."

"The journey to Vienna would be very expensive," said Lena.

"You are not often concerned about economy," said Strudwarden, "and in
any case the trip of Vienna won't cost a bit more than the rather
meaningless luncheon parties we usually give to quite meaningless
acquaintances at Brighton. To escape from all that set would be a
holiday in itself."

Strudwarden spoke feelingly; Lena Strudwarden maintained an equally
feeling silence on that particular subject. The set that she gathered
round her at Brighton and other South Coast resorts was composed of
individuals who might be dull and meaningless in themselves, but who
understood the art of flattering Mrs. Strudwarden. She had no intention
of foregoing their society and their homage and flinging herself among