t her visitor had called
with a view to ascertaining whether the services of any of the Stimpson
household would be available. If she had, it was, of course very
gratifying. If she had merely come in a neighbourly way, there was no
harm in directing her attention to the family qualifications for a
Pageant performance.

Her hearer, without betraying any sign of the mirth she inwardly felt,
meekly agreed that Mrs. Stimpson was undoubtedly well fitted to
impersonate a Queen, and that the costume of a Venetian Doge was rather
a trying one, after which her hostess proceeded: "Perhaps you are right,
dear Lady Harriet, but the worst of it was that my boy Clarence, who
would have made such a handsome Romeo, insisted on going as a _Pierrot_!
Very likely you have seen Clarence?... Oh, you would certainly have
noticed him if you had--always so well turned out. He's got quite a good
post as Secretary to an Insurance Co., in the City: they think so
highly of him there--take his advice on everything--in fact, he
practically _is_ the Company! And only twenty-two! It's _such_ a relief,
because there _was_ a time when it really seemed as if he'd never settle
down to any regular work. Nothing would induce him to enter my husband's
business--for I must tell you, Lady Harriet, we _are_ in business.
Sauces, pickles, condiments of every sort and description--_wholesale_,
you know, _not_ retail, so I hope you aren't _too_ dreadfully shocked!"

Lady Harriet remarked that she saw nothing to be shocked at--several of
her relations and friends were in business of various kinds, which gave
Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson the opening she required. "Society has changed
its views so _much_ lately, has it not?" she said. "Why, the youngest
partner in Mr. Wibberley-Stimpson's firm is a younger son of the Earl of
Fallowfields--Mr. Chervil Thistleton, and an Honourable, of _course_! I
daresay you are acquainted with him?... Not? Quite a charming young
man--married a Miss Succory, a connection of the Restharrows, and such a
sweet girl! You may have met her?... Oh, I thought--but I really hardly
know her _myself_ yet," (which was Mrs. Stimpson's method of disguising
the fact that she had never met either of them in her life). "When he
came into the warehouse he was perfectly amazed at the immense variety
in pickles and sauces--it was quite a revelation to him. Only he can't
_touch_ pickles of any kind, which is a pity, because it prevents him
from taking the inte