_Robinson._ Oh, then, pray let us have Mendelssohn,--one of those exquisite Songs without Words of his. _Susan._ Yas? with plaisir. I like dose songs best myself,--de songs without words. _Nokes [aside, despairingly]._ It's impossible she can get out of this. Now we shall have an _eclaircissement_, an exposure, an explosion. _Susan [strikes piano violently with both hands, and a string breaks with a loud report]._ Ah, _quel dommage!_ How stupide, too, when he told me not to "thomp, thomp"! I am so sorry, gentlemens! I did hope to give you a song, but I cannot sing without an accompaniment. _Rasper [maliciously]._ There's the harp, ma'am,--unless its strings are in the same unsatisfactory state as those of the piano. _Susan [with affected delight]._ What, you play de harp, Mr. Gasper? I _am_ so glad, because I do not play it yet myself: I am only learning. Come, I shall sing, and you shall play upon de harp. _Rasper [angrily]._ I play the harp, madam! what rubbish! of course I can't. _Sponge [eagerly]._ But _I_ can, just a little,--just enough to accompany one of Mrs. Nokes's charming songs. [_Brings the harp down to the front, and sits down to it, trying the strings._] _Nokes [aside]._ The nasty little accomplished beast! He'll ruin everything. Susan is at her wits' end. [_Aside to Susan_] What on earth are we to do now? _Enter SERVANT._ [_In stentorian tones_] Luncheon is on the table! [_Then, approaching Susan, he adds, in lower but distinct tones_] A lady wishes to see you, madam, upon very particular business. _Susan [surprised]._ A lady! what lady? _Nokes [to Susan, aside and impatiently]._ Never mind _what_ lady; see her at once, whoever she is: it will be an excuse for getting away from these people.--My wife is engaged for the present, my good friends, so we'll sit down to lunch without her. [_All bow and leave the room, receiving in return from Susan a stately courtesy. Nokes, the last to leave, kisses his hand to her_.] Adorable Susan, you have conquered, you remain in possession of the field; but you must not risk another engagement. I will see to that. Champagne shall do its work on Rasper--_Gasper_. _Enter MRS. CHARLES NOKES, neatly but cheaply attired. SUSAN rises, bows, and looks toward her interrogatively._ _Mrs. Charles Nokes._ I did not send in my name, madam, because I feared it would but prejudice you against your visitor. I am Charles's--that is, your husband's niece by marriage; not a near relation to yourself, you might say, if you wished to be unkind,--which [_with earnestness_] I do not think you do. _Susan [distressed, but endeavoring to remain firm]._ Oh, but I do, ma'am. I wish to be as hard as a stone. [Aside] Only I can't. What a pretty, modest young creature she is! _Mrs. C.N._ The poor give you no such severe character, madam; and, taking courage by their report, and being poor myself, and, alas! having been the innocent cause of making others poor, I have ventured hither.