having made my selection , my next course of action was to arrange the most casual of introductions , and for this i employed the invaluable mrs. farris , who is one of those puzzling persons who , despite spending uncounted hours of her day sitting at a card-table and speaking to no one save her immediate companions , somehow contrives to be acquainted with almost everyone , even if it is only to the extent of knowing their names , and being able to nod and smile at them in passing , without receiving a coolly repellent stare in return .