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Book, page 282 / 484 to be here to-night?" "Certainly, my dear--you know I could not avoid asking the Miss La Grandes." "Then, positively," cried Miss Georgiana, her whole face changing, and ill-humour swelling in every feature, "then, positively, ma'am, I can't and won't sing a note!" "Why, my dear love," said Mrs. Falconer, "surely you don't pretend to be afraid of the Miss La Grandes?" "You!" cried one of the chorus of flatterers--"You! to whom the La Grandes are no more to be compared--" "Not but that they certainly sing finely, I am told," said Mrs. Falconer; "yet I can't say I like their style of singing--and knowledge of music, you know, they don't pretend to." "Why, that's true," said Miss Georgiana; "but still, somehow, I can never bring out my voice before those girls. If I have any voice at all, it is in the lower part, and Miss La Grande always chooses the lower part--besides, ma'am, you know she regularly takes '_O Giove omnipotente_' from me. But I should not mind _that_ even, if she would not attempt poor '_Quanto O quanto e amor possente_'--there's no standing that! Now, really, to hear that so spoiled by Miss La Grande--" "Hush! my dear," said Mrs. Falconer, just as Mrs. La Grande appeared--"Oh! my good Mrs. La Grande, how kind is this of you to come to me with your poor head! And Miss La Grande and Miss Eliza! We are so much obliged to you, for you know that we could not have done without you." The Miss La Grandes were soon followed by the Miss Barhams and Miss Crotch, and they were all "_so good, and so kind, and such dear creatures_." But after the first forced compliments, silence and reserve spread among the young ladies of the Miss Falconers' party. It was evident that the fair professors were mutually afraid and envious of each other, and there was little prospect of harmony of temper. At length the gentlemen arrived. Count Altenberg appeared, and came up to pay his compliments to the Miss Falconers: as he had not been behind the scenes, all was charming illusion
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