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Wolfstein, ever on the look-out for means of improving her already satisfactory position in the London world, saw one in the vestal virgin and resolved to launch her in England. She was delighted with the result. Miss Schley had already added several very desirable people to the Wolfstein visiting-list. In return "Henry" had "put her on to" one or two very good things in the City.
But no one seemed to know exactly, and the Jacobis are rather reticent about their own concerns. They seem to have a large visiting-list, and to know some big people." "And Miss Jacobi called here?" "Yes, Mrs. Sinclair brought her; but I confess I was somewhat embarrassed by the visit it has placed me in an awkward predicament.
Having entered the engagement in my visiting-list, I rose, in greatly improved spirits, and knocked out my pipe just as the little clock banged out impatiently the hour of midnight. Thorndyke Devises a Scheme As I entered the Temple by the Tudor Street gate the aspect of the place smote my senses with an air of agreeable familiarity.
In plain terms a certain embarrassment, a sensible awkwardness when they thought of it, attached to the idea of using him as a menial: they had met him so often in society. Many of them would have asked him, and did ask him, or rather did ask me to ask him, to come and see them, but a mere visiting-list was not what I wanted for him.
"It is all plain enough," said Carmen, as she sat down with book and pencil in hand, "till you come to the young men, the unattached young men. Here is my visiting-list, that of course. But for the young ladies we must have more young men. Can't you suggest any?" "Perhaps. I know a lot of young fellows." "But I mean available young men, those that count socially.
"But surely," the Altrurian persisted, "you have friends in the city whom you think of as your neighbors?" "No, I can't say that I have," said Mrs. Makely. "I have my visiting-list, but I shouldn't think of anybody on that as a neighbor." The Altrurian looked so blank and baffled that I could hardly help laughing. "Then I should not know how to explain Altruria to you, I'm afraid."
Of course one acts as one can as one must, perhaps pulled by all sorts of invisible threads; but at least one needn't pretend, for social advantages, to subscribe to a creed that ignores the complexity of human motives that classifies people by arbitrary signs, and puts it in everybody's reach to be on Mrs. Tillotson's visiting-list.
Another bit of pinchbeck is the visiting-list the cards of invitation stuck against the drawing-room glass with the grandest names and largest fortunes put forward, irrespective of dates or tenses.
It is true that the Bellomont puppets did not go to church; but others equally important did and Mr. and Mrs. Wetherall's circle was so large that God was included in their visiting-list. They appeared, therefore, punctual and resigned, with the air of people bound for a dull "At Home," and after them Hilda and Muriel straggled, yawning and pinning each other's veils and ribbons as they came.
Certain acts, certain kinds of conduct, were considered immoral, or shocking, or in bad taste and those who defied public opinion were made to pay the penalty. They were given the cold shoulder, cut off the visiting-list and made to feel the stigma of disapproval.
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