Lady Glenmore laughed outright, it might be a little maliciously; for she knew that no scissors, however classical in the estimation of her companion, had touched the luxuriance of her beautiful hair, or any body but her old English maid fashioned her petticoat; but she enjoyed the mistake, and only thought, "This it is to be a minister's wife!" When arrived at Lady Tenderden's house, every thing was prepared for the reception of the _petit soupèr_, that is to say, about twenty people of the _élite_; and the rooms were lit only to that precise degree of brilliancy which is best expressed by a _jour tendre_; but there was _no Lord Glenmore_. Some of the gentlemen loitered round the instrument, touching the notes, and humming some fashionable airs. "Apropos," said Lady Tenderden, "nobody sings like Lady Glenmore, and Mr. Leslie Winyard will accompany her in a duet." "Pardon me," said the latter, "I sing so ill, I should only _put Lady Glenmore out_," and he looked at her significantly; "besides, joking apart, I have such a cold, it is impossible I could utter a sound. But perhaps Lady Glenmore may be prevailed upon to favour us with an air, which will come doubly recommended when not marred by such an ignoramus as myself. Here are all sorts of beautiful things lying about;" and he turned over the music. "Not only all the modern, but all the half-antiquated compositions. Above all, here is my old admiration; and it has this advantage over many of its cotemporaries, it has _echappé belle_, and is not hackneyed, for this cogent reason, that hardly any body _can_ sing it. I mean Haydn's _Ariana à Naxos_." "Oh, charming!" echoed one or two _real_ amateurs; "do, Lady Glenmore, do let us prevail with you to grant us the favour." "Come," joined Lady Tenderden's voice with the rest, "I am sure you will not have ended before _Teseo_ will have arrived." Lady Glenmore _was_ prevailed on to comply; and though she began unwillingly, it was a composition so much in unison with her actual feelings, that unconsciously she became identified with its expression; and she sang with such impassioned tenderness, and looked so much the Ariana that she sang, that all the men were in unfeigned raptures, and Lady Tenderden sat biting her lips in despite for having pressed her to the trial of her skill. Once or twice Lady Glenmore paused when there was a change in the movement, and half rose, saying, "This is too long, you will be tired;"--but she permitted a _douce_ violence, and, reseating herself, finished the whole _scena_. However delightful her performance, and however delighted her audience might be, the odour of the delicate viands that now awaited them made a powerful diversion in favour of the latter; and with _empressement_, while murmurs of applause were still on the lips of many of her auditors, they hastened to arrange themselves at the table.