"
"You seemed determined to make mistakes this evening, Miss Graham,"
answered the baronet, with icy sternness. "Lady Eversleigh and Mr.
Carrington are by no means old friends. Neither my wife nor I have
known the gentleman more than a fortnight. He happens to be a very
accomplished musician, and is good enough to make himself useful in
accompanying Lady Eversleigh when she sings. That is the only claim
which he has on her friendship; and it is one of only a few days'
standing."
"Indeed!" said Miss Graham, repeating the exclamation which had sounded
so disagreeable to Sir Oswald. "I certainly should have mistaken them
for old friends; but then dear Lady Eversleigh is of Italian
extraction, and there is always a warmth of manner, an absence of
reserve, in the southern temperament which is foreign to our colder
natures."
Lady Eversleigh rose from her seat just at this moment, in compliance
with the entreaties of the circle about her.
She approached the grand piano, where Victor Carrington was still
sitting, turning over the leaves of some music, and at the same moment
Sir Oswald rose also, and hurried towards her.
"Do not sing any more to-night, Honoria," he said; "you will fatigue
yourself."
There was some lack of politeness in this speech, as Lady Eversleigh
was about to sing in compliance with the entreaties of her guests.
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