“I don’t see yet,” she complained, “why the young man, the one with the pointed beard, didn’t marry that lady and be done with it. Just as soon as they’d seem to have it all settled, he’d begin to take on again, and strike his breast and go away. I declare, I think it was all kind of foolish.”

“Why, the duke⁠—don’t you see. The one who sang bass⁠—” Page laboured to explain.

“Oh, I didn’t like him at all,” said Aunt Wess’. “He stamped around so.” But the audience itself had interested her, and the décolleté gowns had been particularly impressing.

“I never saw such dressing in all my life,” she declared. “And that woman in the box next ours. Well! did you notice that ?” She raised her eyebrows and set her lips together. “Well, I don’t want to say anything.”