I used to be amused, up there in Strathaivron,
with the confidence Georgie Lestrange showed in singing a duet with
you--"
"Ah, but Miss Lestrange sings very well," said he. "And, you know, if
Lady Adela and her sisters perform a piece like "The Chaplet"--well,
that is a Watteau-like sort of thing--Sevres china--force or passion of
any kind isn't wanted--it's all artificial, and confessedly so. And
then, when the professional actor finds himself acting with amateurs, I
dare say he modifies himself a little--"
"Becomes an amateur, in short," she said.
"In a measure. Otherwise he would be a regular bull in a china shop. And
surely, when you get a number of people in a remote place like
Strathaivron, the efforts of amateurs to amuse them should be encouraged
and approved. I thought it was very unselfish of them--very kind--though
they generally succeeded in sending Lord Fareborough to bed. By the way,
Miss Cunyngham, did Lord Fareborough ever get a stag?"
For it was observable that this young man, whenever he got the chance,
was anxious to lead away the conversation from the theatre and all
things pertaining thereunto, and would rather talk about Strathaivron
and salmon-fishing and Miss Honnor's plans with regard to the coming
year.
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