_Mrs. All._ Such a sweet woman--but the trouble she's had with her
eldest boy, Lord MANGO! He married quite beneath him, you know, some
girl from the provinces--not a county-family girl even.

_Mrs. Ard._ (_shocked_). Dear, dear! _not_ a county family!

_Mrs. All._ No; somebody quite common--I forget the name, but it was
either GHERKIN or ONION, or something of that sort. I was told they
had been in Chili a good while. Poor MANGO never had much taste, or
he would never have got mixed up with such a set. Anyway, he's got
himself into a terrible pickle. I hear Capsicums is actually to be
sold to pay his debts.

_Mrs. Ard._ You don't say so! Capsicums! Gracious!

_Mrs. All._ Yes, _isn't_ it a pity! Such a lovely old place as it
was, too--_the_ most comfortable house to stay at in all England; so
beautifully _warm_! But it's dreadful to think of how the aristocracy
are taking to marry out of their own set. Look at the Duke of
DRAGNET--married a Miss DUCKWEED--goodness only knows where he picked
her up! but he got entangled somehow, and now his people are trying to
get rid of her. I see so many of these cases. Well, I'm afraid I must
wish you good evening--it's my time for retiring. (_Patronisingly._)
I've quite enjoyed this conversation--such a pleasure in a place like
this to come across a congenial companion!

_Mrs. Ard._ (_fluttered and flattered_). I'm sure you're exceedingly
kind to say so, and I can say the same for myself. I hope we may
become better acquainted. (_To herself, after Mrs. ALLBUTT has