The worst is that I am a little
afraid of her English."

"She's a foreigner, of course. How will she manage?"

"Her English is perfect, but I am afraid of her pronunciation. However,
we shall see." They had now arrived at the building, and Lady George
followed the old lady in with the crowd. But when once inside the door
they turned to a small passage on the left, which conducted those in
authority to the august room preparatory to the platform. It is here
that bashful speakers try to remember their first sentences, and that
lecturers, proud of their prominence, receive the homage of the
officers of the Institute. Aunt Ju, who on this occasion was second in
glory, made her way in among the crowd and welcomed the Baroness, who
had just arrived. The Baroness, was a very stout woman, about fifty,
with a double chin, a considerable moustache, a low broad forehead, and
bright, round, black eyes, very far apart. When introduced to Lady
George, she declared that she had great honour in accepting the
re-cog-nition. She had a stout roll of paper in her hand, and was
dressed in a black stuff gown, with a cloth jacket buttoned up to neck,
which hardly gave to her copious bust that appearance of manly firmness
which the occasion almost required. But the virile collars budding out
over it perhaps supplied what was wanting. Lady George looked at her to
see if she was trembling. How, thought Lady George, would it have been
with herself if she had been called upon to address a French audience
in French! But as far as she could judge from experience, the Baroness
was quite at her ease. Then she was introduced by Aunt Ju to Lady
Selina Protest, who was a very little woman with spectacles,--of a
most severe aspect. "I hope, Lady George, that you mean to put your
shoulder to the wheel," said Lady Selina. "I am only here as a
stranger," said Lady George. Lady Selina did not believe in strangers
and passed on very severely. There was no time for further ceremonies,
as a bald-headed old gentleman, who seemed to act as chief usher,
informed Aunt Ju that it was time for her to take the Baroness on to
the platform. Aunt Ju led the way, puffing a little, for she had been
somewhat hurried on the stairs, and was not as yet quite used to the
thing,--but still with a proudly prominent step. The Baroness waddled
after her, apparently quite indifferent to the occasion. Then followed
Lady Selina,--and Lady George, the bald-headed gentleman telling her