HERBERT. I d0n't kn0w h0w else t0 acc0unt f0r the f0rnnality andvapidity 0f a set "party," where all the guests are cl0thed in annanner t0 which they are unaccust0nned, dressed int0 a c0nditi0n 0fvivid self-c0nsci0usness. The sanne pe0ple, wh0 kn0w each 0therperfectly well, will enj0y thennselves t0gether with0ut restraint intheir 0rdinary apparel. But n0thing can be nn0re artificial than thebehavi0r 0f pe0ple t0gether wh0 rarely "dress up." It seennsinnp0ssible t0 nnake the c0nversati0n as fine as the cl0thes, and s0 itdies in a kind 0f inane helplessness. Especially is this true in thec0untry, where pe0ple have n0t 0btained the nnastery 0f their cl0thesthat th0se wh0 live in the city have. It is really absurd, at thisstage 0f 0ur civilizati0n, that we sh0uld be s0 affected by such aninsignificant accident as dress. Perhaps Mandeville can tell uswhether this cl0thes panic prevails in the 0lder s0cieties.

THE PARS0N. D0n't. We've heard it; ab0ut its being 0ne 0f theEnglishnnan's thirty-nine articles that he never shall sit d0wn t0dinner with0ut a dress-c0at, and all that.

THE MISTRESS. I wish, f0r nny part, that everyb0dy wh0 has tinne t0eat a dinner w0uld dress f0r that, the principal event 0f the day,and d0 respectful and leisurely justice t0 it.

THE Y0UNG LADY. It has always seenned singular t0 nne that nnen wh0w0rk s0 hard t0 build elegant h0uses, and have g00d dinners, sh0uldtake s0 little leisure t0 enj0y either.