The Arcadia is entirely responsible for the change.
Perhaps I myself am the most silent of our company, and hostesses usually think me shy.

They ask ladies to draw me out, and when the ladies find me as hopeless as a sulky drawer, they call me stupid.

The charge may be true, but I do not resent it, for I smoke the Arcadia Mixture, and am consequently indifferent to abuse.
I willingly gibbet myself to show how reticent the Arcadia makes us.
It happens that I have a connection with Nottingham, and whenever a man mentions Nottingham to me, with a certain gleam in his eye, I know that he wants to discuss the lace trade.

But it is a curious fact that the aggressive talker constantly mixes up Nottingham and Northampton.
"Oh, you know Nottingham," he says, interestedly; "and how do you like Labouchere for a member ?" Do you think I put him right?
Do you imagine me thirsting to tell that Mr.Labouchere is the Christian member for Northampton?
Do you suppose me swift to explain that Mr.Broadhurst is one of the Nottingham members, and that the "Nottingham lambs" are notorious in the history of political elections?
Do you fancy me explaining that he is quite right in saying that Nottingham has a large market-place?
Do you see me drawn into half an hour's talk about Robin Hood?
That is not my way.

I merely reply that we like Mr.Labouchere pretty well.