r as she
passed him. The Contessa's singing was already known. It was considered
by some with a certain contempt, by others with admiration, as almost as
good as professional. But when instead of one of her usual performances
there arose in splendid fulness the harmony of two voices, that of Bice
suddenly breaking forth in all the freshness of youth, unexpected,
unprepared for, the climax of wonder and enthusiasm was reached. Lady
Anastasia, after the first start and thrill of wonder, rushed to the
usual writing-table and dashed off a hurried note, which she fastened to
her fan in her excitement. "Everybody must know of this!" she cried. One
of the young ladies in the background wept with admiration, crying,
"Mamma, she is heavenly," while even the virtuous mother was moved.
"They must intend her for the stage," that lady said, wondering,
withdrawing from her _role_ of disapproval. As for the gentlemen, those
of them who were not speechless with enthusiasm were almost noisy in
their excitement. Montjoie pressed into the first rank, almost touching
Bice's dress, which she drew away between two bars, turning half round
with a slight shake of her head and a smile in her eyes, even while the
loveliest notes were flowing forth from her melodious throat. The
listeners could hear the noble lord's "by Jove," in the midst of the
music, and even detect the slight quaver of laughter which followed in
Bice's wonderful voice.

The commotion of applause, enthusiasm, and wonder afterwards was
indescribable. The gentlemen crowded round the singers--even the
parliamentary gentlemen had lost their self-control, while the young
lady who had wept forgot her timidity to make an eager approach to the
_debutante_.

"It was heavenly: it was a rapture: oh, sing again!" cried Miss Edith,
which was much prettier than Lord Montjoie's broken exclamations, "Oh,
by Jove! don't you know," to which Bice was listening with delighted
mockery.

Bice had been trained to pay very little attention to the opinions of
other girls, but she gave the young lady in blue a friendly look, and
launched over her shoulder an appeal to Jock. "Didn't you like it,
you?" she cried, with a slight clap together of her hands to call his
attention.

Jock glared at her over Miss Edith's shoulder. "I don't understand
music," he said, in his most surly voice. These were the distinct
utterances which enchanted Bice amid the murmurs of more ordinary
applause. She was delighte