"Is that what you mean?
Oh, I shouldn't care a fig about that!" "About what, then ?" asks Tita anxiously.
"Well, I didn't like to be called _a woman!"_ says Mrs.Chichester, frowning.
"Oh!" says Tita.
"Lady Rylton, where are you?
You said you were going to get up blind man's buff," cries someone at this moment.
"Yes, yes, indeed.

Maurice, will you come and help us ?" says Tita, seeing her husband, and going to him gladly, as a means of getting out of her ridiculous interview with Mrs.Chichester, which has begun to border on burlesque.
"Certainly," says Sir Maurice; he speaks rapidly, eagerly, as if desirous of showing himself devoted to any project of hers.
"Well, then, come on--come on," cries she, gaily beckoning to her guests right and left, and carrying them off, a merry train, to the ball-room.
"Now, who'll be blinded first ?" asks Mr.Gower, who has evidently constituted himself Master of the Ceremonies.
"You!" cries Miss Hescott.
"Not at all.

There is only one fair way of arranging that," says Tita.

"I'll show you.

Now," turning to her husband, "make them all catch hands, Maurice--all in a ring, don't you know--and I'll show you." They all catch hands; there is a slight tussle between Captain Marryatt and Mr.Gower (who is nothing if not a born nuisance wherever he goes), as to which of them is to take Mrs.Chichester's right hand.