, followed by the footman. He carries a salver, table
cloth, and plate stand. Cecily is about to retort. The presence of the
servants exercises a restraining influence, under which both girls
chafe.]

Merriman. Shall I lay tea here as usual, Miss?

Cecily. [Sternly, in a calm voice.] Yes, as usual. [Merriman begins to
clear table and lay cloth. A long pause. Cecily and Gwendolen glare at
each other.]

Gwendolen. Are there many interesting walks in the vicinity, Miss
Cardew?

Cecily. Oh! yes! a great many. From the top of one of the hills quite
close one can see five counties.

Gwendolen. Five counties! I don't think I should like that; I hate
crowds.

Cecily. [Sweetly.] I suppose that is why you live in town? [Gwendolen
bites her lip, and beats her foot nervously with her parasol.]

Gwendolen. [Looking round.] Quite a well-kept garden this is, Miss
Cardew.

Cecily. So glad you like it, Miss Fairfax.

Gwendolen. I had no idea there were any flowers in the country.

Cecily. Oh, flowers are as common here, Miss Fairfax, as people are in
London.

Gwendolen. Personally I cannot understand how anybody manages to exist
in the country, if anybody who is anybody does. The country always bores
me to death.

Cecily. Ah! This is what the newspapers call agricultural depression,
is it not? I believe the aristocracy are suffering very much from it
just at present. It is almost an epidemic amongst them, I have been
told. May I offer you some tea, Miss Fairfax?

Gwendolen. [With elaborate politeness.] Thank you. [Aside.] Detestable
girl! But I require tea!

Cecily. [Sweetly.] Sugar?

Gwendolen. [Superciliously.] No, thank you. Sugar is not fashionable
any more. [Cecily looks angrily at her, takes up the tongs and puts four
lumps of sugar into the cup.]

Cecily. [Severely.] Cake or bread and butter?

Gwendolen. [In a bored manner.] Bread and butter, please. Cake is
rarely seen at the best houses nowadays.

Cecily. [Cuts a very large slice of cake, and puts it on the tray.] Hand
that to Miss Fairfax.

[Merriman does so, and goes out with footman. Gwendolen drinks the tea
and makes a grimace. Puts down cup at once, reaches out her hand to the
bread and butter, looks at it, and finds it is cake. Rises in
indignation.]

Gwendolen. You have filled my tea with lumps of sugar, and though I
asked most distinctly for bread and butter, you have given me cake. I am
kno