y humour. Fan's had a whirl or two in the circles
of fashion.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

She! A hanger-on to the skirts of Society!

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

And very good skirts too when she makes 'em.

MRS. GAYLUSTRE.

Jo, drop that.

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

Excuse my humour, Fan. As for me, from those early boy'ood's days when I
made temporary advances of ha'pence to my sister Fanny, promptly and
without inquiry, I have devoted myself to finance.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Finance!

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

But now, Lady T--to use a poetic figure--I am prepared to cut an eight
on the frozen lake of gentility.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Man!

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

I ignore the innuendo. Lady Twombley, I am aware that for a successful
_entree_ into Society I requiah a--ha--a substantial guarantee. I 'ave,
therefore, the honour and the 'appiness to put myself under your
sheltering and I 'ope sympathetic wing.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

You--you will drive me mad! You won't dare to call here, to contaminate
my bell-handle, to send up your hideous name!

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

Oh, Fan, I really can't! This is descendin' to a mere wrangle. Pray cut
in.

MRS. GAYLUSTRE.

No, Lady Twombley, as the Season is drawing to a close, Joseph certainly
does not intend to attach himself to your London establishment.

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

Not for Joseph--excuse my humour.

MRS. GAYLUSTRE.

But he and I do mean to take our flight from town with the rest of the
swallows. [Pointing to a paragraph in the journal she still carries.]
Look here, we saw this paragraph in the paper yesterday. Read it.

[LADY TWOMBLEY knocks the paper to the ground.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Insolent!

MRS. GAYLUSTRE.

Jo, pet--read it.

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

Fanny, this is really most trying. [Picking up the paper and reading.]
"There are already signs of an exodus from town. Among the first of the
notabilities to turn their faces northward are Sir Julian and Lady
Twombley, who will spend the autumn at Drumdurris Castle as the guests
of their nephew, Lord Drumdurris."

LADY TWOMBLEY.

What is this to you?

MRS. GAYLUSTRE.

What's that to us!

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

Fan, what's that to us! Lady Twombley, we entertain a not unreasonable
desiah to spend _our_ autumn at Drumdurris Castle.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

In the kitchen?

MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.

Oh, Fan, I really can't! You must cut in again.

MRS. GAYLUSTRE.

As the guests of Lord Drumdurris.

LADY TWOMBLEY.