Chapter 3

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_.)