“Have you?” inquired Miss Perry of the Miss Champneys.
“My sister and I have not,” said the elder Miss Champneys, whose top-knot, although not quite so evangelical as Lady Charlotte’s, yet contrived to quiver just as much.
“You ought,” said Miss Perry, with irresistible friendliness. “They play bridge and fire off guns and pretend to be dead. I have been nine times.”
The Miss Champneys conferred in discreet undertones with Lady Charlotte Greg.
“Too natural to be an actress,” said that authority. “Her hair and skin bear inspection. If she were not so painfully overdressed she would be a singularly beautiful girl.”
“Can you place that curiously artificial person?” asked Miss Laetitia, who had a passion for exact knowledge.
“An actor-manager unmistakably,” said Infallibility with immense decision.
“Is he the father, do you suppose?” inquired the insatiable Miss Laetitia.
“Dear me, no, Laetitia. Can you not see that that girl is by way of being a lady?”
All unwittingly the hostess proceeded to deal Infallibility a blow.