It will not, we hope, surprise our readers to hear that Lady Cora Waring, formerly Lady Cora Palliser, only daughter of the Duke of Omnium, wife of Sir Cecil Waring of Beliers Priory, was expecting what used to be called an interesting event. Not that the event was very imminent, but her Ladyship was so puffed up about it that her husband accused her of being a baby-snob. To which she replied that everyone was a snob about something and why not about babies, and her husband said they really ought to ask the Brandons to dinner and the Marlings too, by which he did not mean Mr. and Mrs. Marling from Marling Hall, but Oliver Marling and the Honourable Mrs. Oliver Marling, who was Lord Lufton’s elder sister.

“Va pour les Marlings,” said her Ladyship, “but why the Brandons, darling? They haven’t asked us to dinner and I am all for etiquette. Brides expect to be asked,” to which her husband replied contemptuously that she wasn’t a bride now, she was a matron.