"Still at it?" enquired Mrs. Tribe, who accompanied by her husband now joined the party. "I agree with Lord Henry whatever he has said."
"Ah, you know a thing or two!" cried Vanessa.
At a signal from Sir Joseph, Lord Henry now rose, and the two strolled off together in the direction of the house.
"Have you seen Cleopatra?" the baronet asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
Lord Henry told him briefly what had happened.
"How strange!" Sir Joseph exclaimed.
"It is all the result of our detestable English system of leaving it to our daughters to dress their own shop window, so to speak," Lord Henry remarked, "so that at a given moment they each enter business on their own account, make the best possible show, and of course become the most bitter rivals. It is as cruel as it is stupid. It is the old Manchester School, the commercial idea of unrestricted competition, invading even the family."
Sir Joseph who imagined that the young nobleman was trying to be humorous, laughed at this.
"Ye-es, yes, I see!" he exclaimed chuckling.
Lord Henry groaned.