FIN DE SIÈCLE
"That's where poor Mrs. Wilkins used to live!"
"Why 'poor' Mrs. Wilkins?"
"Well, her husband was killed in that horrid railway accident, don't you remember?"
"Oh, but that was months ago!"
A CUP OF TEA AND A QUIET CIGARETTE AFTER LUNCH
PRECEDENCE IN VANITY FAIR
The lady guests go in to dinner with the host and young Sir John and young Sir James and the Hon. Dick Swiveller, while the hostess naturally takes the arm of her nephew, Lord Goslin (just from Eton), so that, as the party is just two ladies short, Dr. Jones, the great historian, and Professor Brown, the famous philologist (whose wives have not been asked), bring up the rear together.
The Doctor.—"Well, Professor, we may be of less consequence than the rest, but at all events we're the oldest and the most renowned!"