Clara and Eliza attempt to appear as ladies at Mrs. Higgins' at-home. Contrast their behavior to that of Mrs. Higgins in Pygmalion.

is the story of
language and class and culture--both high and low.  In this scene, unlike her son, Mrs. Higgins
is polite and welcoming, despite the fact that Henry has surprised her with this
"experiment."  She is gracious in every way (even though she really tells it like it
is to Henry), which is a wonderful  foil for her son's behavior. 

Clara is
also a young lady of social standing (though no money), and she should know how to conduct
herself in these kinds of gatherings.  Instead, she's rude and disrespectful and very
"teen-agery" in her behaviors.  She's neither happy nor content, and everyone around
her sees it.  She acts like a petulant child.

Eliza is trying so very hard to
be all that Mrs. Higgins is--but it doesn't go so well.  She speaks way beyond the bounds of the
subjects she was given, and she amuses them all with her slips into improper English. When they
laugh, she gets a bit miffed at them, but she's pretty good-natured about the whole thing in the
end.  She has the right attitude but the wrong behaviors.

Neither of these
young ladies is able to match the social grace and poise of Mrs. Higgins; however, by far the
least socially acceptable behavior in the room is exhibited by Henry.