'Comfort,' said Mr. Podgers, 'and modern improvements, and hot water
laid on in every bedroom. Your Grace is quite right. Comfort is
the only thing our civilisation can give us.

'You have told the Duchess's character admirably, Mr. Podgers, and
now you must tell Lady Flora's'; and in answer to a nod from the
smiling hostess, a tall girl, with sandy Scotch hair, and high
shoulder-blades, stepped awkwardly from behind the sofa, and held
out a long, bony hand with spatulate fingers.

'Ah, a pianist! I see,' said Mr. Podgers, 'an excellent pianist, but
perhaps hardly a musician. Very reserved, very honest, and with a
great love of animals.'

'Quite true!' exclaimed the Duchess, turning to Lady Windermere,
'absolutely true! Flora keeps two dozen collie dogs at Macloskie,
and would turn our town house into a menagerie if her father would
let her.'

'Well, that is just what I do with my house every Thursday evening,'
cried Lady Windermere, laughing, 'only I like lions better than
collie dogs.'

'Your one mistake, Lady Windermere,' said Mr. Podgers, with a
pompous bow.

'If a woman can't make her mistakes charming, she is only a female,'
was the answer. 'But you must read some more hands for us. Come,
Sir Thomas, show Mr. Podgers yours'; and a genial-looking old
gentleman, in a white waistcoat, came forward, and held out a thick