There were present deputies from all the best provincial choral societies; genuine, barrel-shaped, native Labassecouriens.

These worthies gave voice without mincing the matter their hearty exertions had at least this good result--the ear drank thence a satisfying sense of power.
Through the whole performance--timid instrumental duets, conceited vocal solos, sonorous, brass-lunged choruses--my attention gave but one eye and one ear to the stage, the other being permanently retained in the service of Dr.Bretton: I could not forget him, nor cease to question how he was feeling, what he was thinking, whether he was amused or the contrary.

At last he spoke.
"And how do you like it all, Lucy?
You are very quiet," he said, in his own cheerful tone.
"I am quiet," I said, "because I am so very, _very_ much interested: not merely with the music, but with everything about me." He then proceeded to make some further remarks, with so much equanimity and composure that I began to think he had really not seen what I had seen, and I whispered--"Miss Fanshawe is here: have you noticed her ?" "Oh, yes! and I observed that you noticed her too ?" "Is she come with Mrs.Cholmondeley, do you think ?" "Mrs.Cholmondeley is there with a very grand party.

Yes; Ginevra was in _her_ train; and Mrs.Cholmondeley was in Lady -- --'s train, who was in the Queen's train.

If this were not one of the compact little minor European courts, whose very formalities are little more imposing than familiarities, and whose gala grandeur is but homeliness in Sunday array, it would sound all very fine." "Ginevra saw you, I think ?" "So do I think so.