Mordred Mulliner, a poet, goes to the dentist. In the waiting room, he meets Annabelle Sprockett-Sprockett, daughter of Sir Murgatroyd and Lady Aurelia Sprockett-Sprockett of Smattering Hall, Worcestershire. Mordred falls in love with her immediately. Annabelle rarely gets to visit London and wants more time for window-shopping, so Mordred gives her his earlier appointment. When she is done and returns to the waiting room, he throws his cigarette into the wastepaper basket. This startles Annabelle and he retrieves the cigarette, explaining that he is absent-minded and often throws cigarettes into wastepaper baskets. He has burned two flats already this year. The next day, Mordred receives a letter from Lady Sprockett-Sprockett. She is grateful for Mordred's kindness towards Annabelle and invites him to visit. Mordred happily sends a telegram accepting the invitation. At Smattering Hall, Mordred is discouraged when he sees that there are six other young unmarried men there, all impressive and handsome. The Sprockett-Sprockett family is genial towards Mordred and provide him with plenty of cigarettes, but he is too concerned about his rivals to be cheerful.
