m very much interested in politics, Lady Markby.
I love to hear Robert talk about them.

LADY MARKBY. Well, I hope he is not as devoted to Blue Books as Sir John
is. I don't think they can be quite improving reading for any one.

MRS. CHEVELEY [_Languidly_.] I have never read a Blue Book. I prefer
books . . . in yellow covers.

LADY MARKBY. [_Genially unconscious_.] Yellow is a gayer colour, is it
not? I used to wear yellow a good deal in my early days, and would do so
now if Sir John was not so painfully personal in his observations, and a
man on the question of dress is always ridiculous, is he not?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Oh, no! I think men are the only authorities on dress.

LADY MARKBY. Really? One wouldn't say so from the sort of hats they
wear? would one?

[_The butler enters_, _followed by the footman_. _Tea is set on a small
table close to_ LADY CHILTERN.]

LADY CHILTERN. May I give you some tea, Mrs. Cheveley?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Thanks. [_The butler hands_ MRS. CHEVELEY _a cup of tea
on a salver_.]

LADY CHILTERN. Some tea, Lady Markby?

LADY MARKBY. No thanks, dear. [_The servants go out_.] The fact is, I
have promised to go round for ten minutes to see poor Lady Brancaster,
who is in very great trouble. Her daughter, quite a well-brought-up
girl, too, has actually become engaged to be married to a curate in
Shropshire. It is very sad, very sad indeed. I can't understand this
modern mania for curates. In my time we girls saw them, of course,
running about the place like rabbits. But we never took any notice of
them, I need hardly say. But I am told that nowadays country society is
quite honeycombed with them. I think it most irreligious. And then the
eldest son has quarrelled with his father, and it is said that when they
meet at the club Lord Brancaster always hides himself behind the money
article in _The Times_. However, I believe that is quite a common
occurrence nowadays and that they have to take in extra copies of _The
Times_ at all the clubs in St. James's Street; there are so many sons who
won't have anything to do with their fathers, and so many fathers who
won't speak to their sons. I think myself, it is very much to be
regretted.

MRS. CHEVELEY. So do I. Fathers have so much to learn from their sons
nowadays.

LADY MARKBY. Really, dear? What?

MRS. CHEVELEY. The art of living. The only really Fine Art we have
produced in modern times.

LADY MARKBY. [_Sha