Mrs. Martineau: That is because I insist on having the clothes made by the French for the French; not the models designed for export purposes.

Lady Emily: What is the difference?

Mrs. Martineau: When an Englishwoman or an American goes into Callot, or Cheruit, the vendeuse instantly shows her the most elaborate things she has got—lace, flowers, furs and furbelows.

Lady Emily: Why?

Mrs. Martineau: Out of contempt for our taste and desire to make the price as high as possible.

Selina: And we think it must be all right because of the name inside.

Mrs. Martineau: Men are such bad judges of clothing! They like crude colours and they notice nothing.

Selina: No. They say, “Kitty had on a divine dress,” and you ask, “What colour was it?” and they explain, “Kind of orange,” and it turns out to have been jade green.

Ann: And they always admire on other women the sort of clothes they deprecate for their wives.