'As a rule,' said Lady Bandobust, absently, 'they spend so much money in
England.'
'There can be no doubt of the advantages of an experience of English
society,' she continued, rather as if I had suggested one. 'To a young
lady especially it is invaluable--it leads to so much. I don't know
quite to what extent you would expect----' Here Lady Bandobust paused,
as if waiting for data on which to proceed.
'I would expect----?' I repeated, not quite understanding.
'But I think I could arrange a certain number of balls, say four; one or
two dinners--you wouldn't care much about dinners, though, I dare say;
a few good 'at homes'; a Saturday or so at Hurlingham--possibly Ascot;
but, of course, you know everything would depend upon yourself.'
'I could hardly expect you to make me enjoy myself, Lady Bandobust,' I
said. 'That altogether depends upon one's own capacity for pleasure, as
you say.'
'Oh, altogether!' she returned. 'Well, we might say six
balls--thoroughly good ones'--and Lady Bandobust looked at me for a
longer time together than she had yet--'and possibly the Royal Inclosure
at Ascot. I say "possibly" because it is very difficult to get. And a
house-party to finish up with, which really ought to be extra, as it
doesn't properly belong to a London season; but if I can at all see my
way to it,' Lady Bandobust went on, 'I'll put it into the three hundred.
There are the Allspices, who have just bought Lord Frereton's place in
Wilts--I could take anybody there!'
'Your friends must be very obliging, Lady Bandobust,' said I.
'The Private View is over,' said Lady Bandobust; 'but there is the
Academy Soiree in June, and the Royal Colonial Institute, and a few
things like that.'
'It sounds charming,' I remarked.
'We might do something about the Four-in-hand,' Lady Bandobust
continued, with some impatience.
'Yes?' I said.
There was a pause, in which I cast about me for some way of escape. I
felt that my interest in Lady Bandobust was exhausted, and that I
could not pretend to entertain her scheme any longer with self-respect.
Besides, by this time I cordially hated her. But I could think of no
formula to retreat under, and resigned myself to sit there helplessly,
and defend myself as best I could, until I was dismissed.
Lady Bandobust produced her last card. 'The Duchess of Dudlington gives
a fête on the twelfth,' she said, throwing it, as it were, upon the
table. 'I should probably be able to take you there.'
'The Duchess of Dudlington?' said I, in pure stupidity.
'Yes. And she is rather partial to Americans, for some extraordinary
reason or another.' The conversation flagged again.
'Presentation--if that is what you are thinking of--would be extra, Miss
Wick,' Lady Bandobust stated, firmly.
'Oh'--how much extra, Lady Bandobust?'
My prospective patroness did not hesitate a minute. 'Fifty pounds,' she
said, and looked at me inquiringly.
'I--I don't think I was thinking of it, Lady Bandobust,' I said. I felt
mean, as we say in America.
'You were not! Well,' said she, judicially, 'I don't know that I would
advise the outlay. It is a satisfactory thing to have done, of course,
but not nearly so essential as it used to be--nothing like. You can get
on without it. And, as you say, fifty pounds is fifty pounds.'