"Perhaps not."
"There is only one thing, Sir Albert, if you don't mind my saying it—I was so surprised to see her so plain."
"So plain! We think, in the family, that my aunt, for her age, is very good-looking; she has such a pleasant face."
"Oh! I don't mean plain in the sense of ugly," Lady Lyons said, in a great hurry, "but plain in her dress. She had no jewels on, not even a diamond ring, for I looked to see when she took off her gloves at supper."
"Some people think that the hostess ought to be unadorned. I rather like the sentiment."
"I don't the least understand it," said Lady Lyons, bluntly; "when I used to have company I put on my smartest gown."
"I suppose the Duchess has no smartest gowns," he answered laughing.
"Now that's nonsense, Sir Albert. But I should like to know the 'sentiment,' as you call it, though, for my own part, I cannot see any connection between sentiment and clothes."
"I do," said Grace; "if I am in a very good temper I can wear blue or white with a quiet conscience; if I am in a rage I wear red."
"My dear Miss Rivers! You do say such funny things."