I hope she has recovered, for Mr.Green has told me so much about her that I am dying with curiosity to see her." "She is better, I thank you, but not well enough to see company," replied Mrs.Delano.
"What a pity she will be obliged to relinquish the opera to-night!" observed Mr.Fitzgerald.

"I hear she is very musical; and they tell wonderful stories about this new _prima donna_.

They say she has two more notes in the altissimo scale than any singer who has been heard here, and that her sostenuto is absolutely marvellous." Mrs.Delano replied politely, expressing regret that she and her daughter were deprived of the pleasure of hearing such a musical genius.

After some desultory chat concerning the various sights in Rome, the visitors departed.
"I'm glad your call was short," said Mr.Fitzgerald.

"That lady is a perfect specimen of Boston ice." Whereupon his companion began to rally him for want of gallantry in saying anything disparaging of Boston.
Meanwhile Mrs.Delano was pacing the parlor in a disturbed state of mind.