reading. Enter Charles with card and letter.
_El_. [_reading card_]. Mr Adolphus Plumper! Is the gentleman coming up-
stairs, Charles?
_Charles_. No, my lady; he only left the card and this letter, and said
he would call again. [_Exit_ Charles.
_El_. [_opening letter_]. From Mr Gresham, mamma, dated Naples.
[_Reads_.] "DEAR ELAINE,--I felt so much touched by the kindness of your
last words to me when we parted, that I venture to hope that it may
interest you to know, as a friend, how it has fared with me since I left
England. The curative process does not seem to have fairly set in yet,
but I am going to try the effect of a little mild excitement by joining
the demonstrating fleets at Alexandria. For a month past I have been
idling here; and curiously enough, the first person I stumbled upon in
the Chiaja Gardens was Mr Adolphus Plumper--our railway companion on the
only journey I ever had the happiness to take with you, and who seated
himself by my side on a bench to which I had resorted for a quiet cigar.
As there are few foreigners here at this season, we have been thrown
almost daily together, and I have been quite delighted to find how very
much superior he is to what I thought he _looked_ when you honoured me by
pointing out our resemblance. I ought to speak highly of him, for he
saved my life. I took him a cruise in my yacht, and the gig in which we
were landing one day was upset in some breakers. I had been stunned, and
should have been drowned had he not come to the rescue; and I really feel
that for this and some other reasons which I will explain when we meet, I
owe him a debt of gratitude that I can never hope to repay. Although he
is too retiring by nature to say so, I could see, when I made some
laughing allusions to the occasion of our first meeting, that he would be
glad to continue to make the acquaintance of Lord and Lady Gules--in
other words, to continue the political discussion he then commenced with
you. Singular to state, he is an admirer of Congreve and all that
school, so I am sure you will have plenty of topics in common. Mr
Plumper has made an enormous fortune as a contractor, and now chiefly
occupies himself with works of charity and benevolence. One of his
special hobbies is the introduction of the aesthetic principle into
_Kindergartens_. I have given him a hint not to introduce his vulgar
friend Flamm--pardon me the expression, though he is a Radical. I have
given Plumper a few lines to Lady Gules. Please do all you can to
overcome the prejudice against him which both she and Lord Gules are sure
to entertain; and believe me, yours faithfully,
"ADOLPHUS GRESHAM."
_Lady G_. A Radical, a plutocrat, and an infidel! That is a mixture
that ought to suit you, Elaine.
_El_. Quite as well as a Tory, a spendthrift, and a bigot, which is the
one I usually meet in society, mamma. But please do not let us quarrel.
I always try to be polite to your mixtures. For Mr Gresham's sake, be
civil to mine.
_Lady G_. For Mr Gresham's sake, indeed! What have you done for Mr
Gresham's sake that puts me under an obligation to him? However, I
suppose we must ask the man to dinner. Is there any address on his card?
_El_. 20 Heavitree Gardens.
_Lady G_. One of those millionaire palaces, I suppose, in the back
regions of South Kensington. The carriage is waiting, so I shall leave
you to write the invitation. You had better ask him for Tuesday, when we
have got some people coming to dinner.
[_Exit_ Lady Gules.
_El_. [_taking up the letter, reads_]. "Now chiefly occupies himself
with works of charity and benevolence. One of his special hobbies is the
introduction of aesthetic principles into _Kindergartens_." How
refreshing to meet a man at last who takes a living interest in the
welfare of his fellow-creatures! I am sure I shall like him. [ _Writes,
and rings the bell_.]
_Enter_ Charles.
_Lady E_. Please put this in the post, Charles. [_Exit_ Charles.] Now
I must go and get ready to go out riding with papa, and reconcile him to
the dreadful idea of having "a Radical, a plutocrat, and an infidel" at
his dinner-table. [_Exit_ Elaine.
(_A month elapses_.)