he odd trick. I will go and smoke
a cigar on the terrace, and contemplate the silver Thames, the darkling
woods, the starry hosts of heaven. I--I like smoking better than playing
whist. [MILLIKEN rings bell.]

MILLIKEN.--Ah, George! you're not fit for domestic felicity.

TOUCHIT.--No, not exactly.

HOWELL enters.

MILLIKEN.--Lights and a whist-table. Oh, I see you bring 'em. You know
everything I want. He knows everything I want, Howell does. Let us cut.
Miss Prior, you and I are partners!

ACT II.

SCENE.--As before.

LADY K.--Don't smoke, you naughty boy. I don't like it. Besides, it will
encourage your brother-in-law to smoke.

CLARENCE K.--Anything to oblige you, I'm sure. But can't do without it,
mother; it's good for my health. When I was in the Plungers, our doctor
used to say, "You ought never to smoke more than eight cigars a day"--an
order, you know, to do it--don't you see?

LADY K.--Ah, my child! I am very glad you are not with those unfortunate
people in the East.

K.--So am I. Sold out just in time. Much better fun being here, than
having the cholera at Scutari. Nice house, Milliken's. Snob, but
good fellow--good cellar, doosid good cook. Really, that salmi
yesterday,--couldn't have it better done at the "Rag" now. You have got
into good quarters here, mother.

LADY K.--The meals are very good, and the house is very good; the
manners are not of the first order. But what can you expect of city
people? I always told your poor dear sister, when she married Mr.
Milliken, that she might look for everything substantial,--but not
manners. Poor dear Arabella WOULD marry him.

K.--Would! that is a good one, mamma! Why, you made her! It's a dozen
years ago. But I recollect, when I came home from Eton, seeing her
crying because Charley Tufton--

LADY K.--Mr. Tufton had not a shilling to bless himself with. The
marriage was absurd and impossible.

K.--He hadn't a shilling then. I guess he has plenty now. Elder brother
killed, out hunting. Father dead. Tuf a baronet, with four thousand a
year if he's a shilling.

LADY K.--Not so much.

K.--Four thousand if it's a shilling. Why, the property adjoins
Kicklebury's--I ought to know. I've shot over it a thousand times. Heh!
I remember, when I was quite a young 'un, how Arabella used to go out
into Tufton Park to meet Charley--and he is a doosid good fellow, and a
gentlemanlike fellow, and a doosid deal better than this city fellow.

LADY K.