Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/147

 "One at a time," said their mother laughing. "Well, a wedding is a nice cheerful incident to my mind—and did you see the lovers?"

"Yes, Colonel Hilton is, what Lady Chester calls, Fanatico per la musica, quite mad for music, and he did so admire Janet's 'Ruth.

"And he said Rose had one of the best contralto voices he ever heard; and the Duchess was there, and oh, mamma, this is the nicest thing of all, she has actually asked us," and then they both spoke together, "to a morning concert at St. Maur House, to hear Piccolomini and Giuglini and all the great singers we have read about in the paper."

"You don't say so, my loves, but you two can't go alone amongst all that crowd of great people."

"Oh! but she asked you, too, here is the card, she brought it with her—Mrs. Hopkinson and the Miss Hopkinsons."

Poor Mrs. Hopkinson did not respond at all to the radiant looks of her daughters, she was grieved to disappoint them; but the