Old Friends and New Fancies Read Online Free Page B
Author: Sybil G. Brinton
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
her possible husband, in consequence of the better taste
she had acquired at Mansfield. This evening, Miss Crawford,
who had consented to perform solely on account of the charitable object of the concert, was out of humour with herself and all
the world. Her sister being unwell, she had been obliged to
accept an escort to the concert, the company of Sir Walter and
Miss Elliot, whom, as residents in Bath, she had known since the
time of her sister's settling there. Miss Crawford's beauty of face
and figure were exactly what would recommend Sir Walter; and
while condemning her sister as dull and unfashionable, nothing
delighted him more than to be seen in public as squire of the
charming and elegant Miss Crawford. Six months' acquaintance
had caused her, on her side, thoroughly to weary of him, and on
the few occasions when she could not avoid a meeting she
endeavoured to converse with his eldest daughter, whom she found only a degree less tiresome and empty-headed. To-night, however, there was no help for it. With them she had come, with them she must remain, unluckily placed at a distance from any of her other Bath friends, her enjoyment of the music spoiled by her companions' irrelevant chatter, her only pleasure to acquit herself creditably in the piece she had chosen to play. This, at all events, was in her power, she felt, as she ascended the platform and shook off sensations of listlessness and ennui; and she succeeded so well that the audience were roused to a display of their delight and enthusiasm, and she had to return twice to acknowledge their plaudits. Next moment she perceived, or thought she perceived, that owing to an increased crowd in the lower part of the room she could not easily get back to her seat without making a little disturbance; so she slipped into a chair in the front row, which was
allotted to the performers, thankful even for a short respite. When the interval came, she remained where she was, and,
a few minutes later, seeing the gentleman who had been the
chief promoter of the concert trying to attract her attention, she
rose unwillingly, supposing that Sir Walter Elliot had come to
claim her. What was her surprise to hear Mr. Durand say: "Lady
Catherine de Bourgh particularly wishes to know you. May I
present you to her?"
Mary felt that she had not had much choice in the matter,
but she found herself curtseying to a tall and formidable-looking
elderly lady, dressed in rich brocades, who surveyed her as if from
a great height, and said: "Allow me to tell you, Miss Crawford,
how much pleased I was with your late performance on the harp.
I have heard every harp player of note in Europe during the last
forty years, and I may say I consider you quite equal to those of the second rank. Though not a performer myself, I am quite
acquitted with the difficulties of the instrument."
Mary hardly knew whether to be more vexed or amused at
this extraordinary address, and might have been inclined
towards the former, had not Mrs. Darcy, who had seen the beginning of the incident, and hastened forward lest her aunt's insolent patronage should offend, interposed with a kindly: "We
have all been enjoying your piece so much. It must be delightful
to be able to play like that. My aunt is such a lover of music that
she cannot hide her enthusiasm."
"And why should I hide it, may I ask?" demanded Lady
Catherine. "My judgment has often been of great service to young
amateurs, among whom you might include yourself, Elizabeth" "Yes, I know," replied Elizabeth, good-humouredly. "But
Miss Crawford cannot be classed with the average amateur. May
I introduce myself, as Mr. Durand has gone away? I am Mrs.
Darcy. I saw you sitting with the Elliots, so perhaps you know a
great friend of mine, Mrs. Wentworth."
Miss Crawford was about to enter gladly into the subject of
Mrs. Wentworth, when Lady Catherine interposed, and in a few
minutes, before Mary had quite realized what was happening,
she found herself giving the assurance
she had acquired at Mansfield. This evening, Miss Crawford,
who had consented to perform solely on account of the charitable object of the concert, was out of humour with herself and all
the world. Her sister being unwell, she had been obliged to
accept an escort to the concert, the company of Sir Walter and
Miss Elliot, whom, as residents in Bath, she had known since the
time of her sister's settling there. Miss Crawford's beauty of face
and figure were exactly what would recommend Sir Walter; and
while condemning her sister as dull and unfashionable, nothing
delighted him more than to be seen in public as squire of the
charming and elegant Miss Crawford. Six months' acquaintance
had caused her, on her side, thoroughly to weary of him, and on
the few occasions when she could not avoid a meeting she
endeavoured to converse with his eldest daughter, whom she found only a degree less tiresome and empty-headed. To-night, however, there was no help for it. With them she had come, with them she must remain, unluckily placed at a distance from any of her other Bath friends, her enjoyment of the music spoiled by her companions' irrelevant chatter, her only pleasure to acquit herself creditably in the piece she had chosen to play. This, at all events, was in her power, she felt, as she ascended the platform and shook off sensations of listlessness and ennui; and she succeeded so well that the audience were roused to a display of their delight and enthusiasm, and she had to return twice to acknowledge their plaudits. Next moment she perceived, or thought she perceived, that owing to an increased crowd in the lower part of the room she could not easily get back to her seat without making a little disturbance; so she slipped into a chair in the front row, which was
allotted to the performers, thankful even for a short respite. When the interval came, she remained where she was, and,
a few minutes later, seeing the gentleman who had been the
chief promoter of the concert trying to attract her attention, she
rose unwillingly, supposing that Sir Walter Elliot had come to
claim her. What was her surprise to hear Mr. Durand say: "Lady
Catherine de Bourgh particularly wishes to know you. May I
present you to her?"
Mary felt that she had not had much choice in the matter,
but she found herself curtseying to a tall and formidable-looking
elderly lady, dressed in rich brocades, who surveyed her as if from
a great height, and said: "Allow me to tell you, Miss Crawford,
how much pleased I was with your late performance on the harp.
I have heard every harp player of note in Europe during the last
forty years, and I may say I consider you quite equal to those of the second rank. Though not a performer myself, I am quite
acquitted with the difficulties of the instrument."
Mary hardly knew whether to be more vexed or amused at
this extraordinary address, and might have been inclined
towards the former, had not Mrs. Darcy, who had seen the beginning of the incident, and hastened forward lest her aunt's insolent patronage should offend, interposed with a kindly: "We
have all been enjoying your piece so much. It must be delightful
to be able to play like that. My aunt is such a lover of music that
she cannot hide her enthusiasm."
"And why should I hide it, may I ask?" demanded Lady
Catherine. "My judgment has often been of great service to young
amateurs, among whom you might include yourself, Elizabeth" "Yes, I know," replied Elizabeth, good-humouredly. "But
Miss Crawford cannot be classed with the average amateur. May
I introduce myself, as Mr. Durand has gone away? I am Mrs.
Darcy. I saw you sitting with the Elliots, so perhaps you know a
great friend of mine, Mrs. Wentworth."
Miss Crawford was about to enter gladly into the subject of
Mrs. Wentworth, when Lady Catherine interposed, and in a few
minutes, before Mary had quite realized what was happening,
she found herself giving the assurance