[Rising.] May I look at your literature?

[Mrs. Eden goes to the writing-table and turns over the books she finds there. The Duchess glances at the clock, and eyes Mrs. Eden with impatience.

Mrs. Eden.

"Le Calvaire d'une vierge." "Lune de Miel." "Les Aventures de Madame Plon." Oh, I've heard of this! this is a little—h'm!—isn't it?

Duchess.

I read those things for the sake of their exquisitely polished style; the subjects escape me.

Mrs. Eden.

[Seating herself by the writing-table and dipping into "Madame Plon.">[ Ah yes, the style—the style. [Absorbed.] We haven't much real literary style in England, have we?

[Sophy returns, carrying a pink tea-gown trimmed with green ribbons, and a richly embroidered Mandarin's robe.

Sophy.