Or her?—This remark leads to the question, Are there to be any ladies? Boodels says decidedly, Yes.
Chilvern, putting it artistically, says, “We want a bit of colour in a house like that.”
Cazell wants to know who is to be the host. Boodels proposes me.
I accept the position; but what am I exactly? that's what I must clearly understand.
Milburd explains—a sort of president of a Domestic Republic.
Very good. Then how about the ladies?
Chilvern says we must have a hostess. We all suppose, doubtfully, that we must. I ask, Won't that interfere with our arrangements?
Boodels replies, that “we can't have any arrangements without a hostess.” He says, after some consideration, that he has got a Grandmother who might be useful. Chilvern, deferentially, proposes an Aunt of his own, but does not, as it were, press her upon us, on account of some infirmities of temper. I've got a half-sister who was a widow about the time I was born, and if she's not in India . . . .
On the whole we think that if Boodels would have no objection to his grandmother coming. . . . .
“Not in the least,” says Boodels. “I think she can stand a fortnight of it or so.”