Page:Free Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and Conduct.djvu/146

Lady Belinda Boomall—second daughter of the Duke of Borrowdom,—she's just mad on me! She thinks I've got money, and I let her! It's real fun! And as to the Marchioness Golfhouse—she's up to some games I tell you! She knows a thing or two! My word!" Here he gives vent to a sound suggestive of something between a sneeze and a snigger which is his own particular way of rendering the laugh satirical. "I always get on with your blue-blooded girls!"—he proceeds; "I guess they're pretty tired of their own men hulking round! They take to an Amurrican as ducks take to water. See all those cards?"—pointing in a casual way to half a dozen or so of pasteboard slips littered on the mantelshelf, among which the discerning observer might certainly see one or two tradesmen's advertisements—"They just shower 'em on me! I've got an 'at home' to-night and a ball afterwards—to-morrow I breakfast at Marlborough House;—then lunch with Lady Adelaide Sparkler,—she drives me in the Park afterwards—and in the evening I dine at St. James' Palace and go to the Opera with the Rothschilds. It's always like that with me! I never have a moment to myself. All these people want me. Lady Adelaide Sparkler declares she cannot possibly do without me! I ought to have been at Stafford House this after-*noon—great show on there—but I can't be bothered!—the Duchess is just too trying for words sometimes! Of course it's all a question of connection;—they know who I am and all about my ancestors, and that makes 'em so anxious to have me. You know who my ancestors were?"