f-an-hour before attempting
to sleep. Put me into something loose.

SOPHY.

Yes, your Grace.

[SOPHY _again retires to the bedroom._

MRS. EDEN.

[_Rising._] May I look at your literature?

[MRS. EDEN _goes to the writing-table and turns over the books she finds
there. The_ DUCHESS _glances at the clock, and eyes_ MRS. EDEN _with
impatience._

MRS. EDEN.

"_Le Calvaire d'une vierge_." "_Lune de Miel_." "_Les Aventures de
Madame Plon_." Oh, I've heard of this! this is a little--h'm!--isn't it?

DUCHESS.

I read those things for the sake of their exquisitely polished style;
the subjects escape me.

MRS. EDEN.

[_Seating herself by the writing-table and dipping into_ "_Madame
Plon_."] Ah yes, the style--the style. [_Absorbed._] We haven't much
real literary style in England, have we?

[SOPHY _returns, carrying a pink tea-gown trimmed with green ribbons,
and a richly embroidered Mandarin's robe._

SOPHY.

Will your Grace put on one of these? [_With a curl of the lip._] They're
both very becoming, I should think.

DUCHESS.

[_Smiling sadly._] Becoming! as if that mattered, child!

SOPHY.

Which will your Grace--?

DUCHESS.

[_To herself, closing her eyes._] _Couleur de rose_--[_to_ SOPHY]
er--that pink rag. Take off my collarette.

[SOPHY _lays the tea-gown and the robe over the back of the settee and
proceeds to unfasten the_ DUCHESS'S _pearl collarette._

MRS. EDEN.

[_Startled, by some passage in the book she is reading._] Oh, I _say_!

DUCHESS.

What, dear Mrs. Eden?

MRS. EDEN.

[_Bethinking herself--soberly._] Ah, yes, the style is excellent, isn't
it?

DUCHESS.

[_To_ SOPHY, _while the collarette is in process of removal._] Have you
everything you require for the night, child?

SOPHY.

Yes, thank you, your Grace. Miss Gilchrist, Mrs. Eden's maid, has lent
me a night-gown and a pair of slippers.

DUCHESS.

[_Handing her bracelets to_ SOPHY.] Drop them into the case.

[SOPHY _puts the collarette and bracelets in the jewel-case. The_
DUCHESS, _rising, again looks at the clock and at_ MRS. EDEN. SOPHY
_returns to the_ DUCHESS, _who is now behind the settee._

DUCHESS.

[_To_ SOPHY.] It is very good of you, Sophy, to attend upon me.

SOPHY.

[_Averting her head._] Not at all, your Grace.

DUCHESS.

[_Taking up the Mandarin's robe._] Here is a pretty thing for you.
[_Giving the robe to_ SOPHY.] Wear it to dress your hair in, in the
morning.

SOPHY.

[_Breath