De Gustibus non Disputandum.—Adonis (after his guests have departed). “By Jove, Maria, what a handsome woman Mrs. Jones is! She looks better than ever!”
His Wife. “Ahem! Well, it may be my bad taste, but I own I have hitherto failed to detect the beauty of Mrs. Jones. Now, Mr. Jones is good-looking, if you like!”
Adonis. “Jones good-looking! Come—hang it, Maria, Jones is a very good fellow, and all that; but I must say I’ve never perceived his good looks!” &c., &c.
Hostess. “I thought you were going to play ‘Bridge’!”
Host. “So we are, but they are playing ‘ping-pong’ in the dining-room, and ‘fires’ in the billiard-room, Jack’s trying to imitate Dan Leno in the drawing-room, and Dick’s got that infernal gramophone of his going in the hall, and they are laying supper in the smoking-room, so we’re going to the nursery!”
