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between sneerers and pitiers. The first insinuated, that Ellis thought it fine and lady-like to affect being frightened; the second saw, and compassionated, in her failure, the natural effect of distressed modesty, mingled with wounded pride.
Nevertheless, her fervent, but indiscriminating juvenile admirer, Lady Barbara, echoed by Selina, enthusiastically exclaimed, "How delightfully she plays and sings! How adorably!"
Miss Arbe, well aware that fear alone had thus "unstrung the lyre" of Ellis, secretly exulted, that the Dilettanti would possess her name and services for their institution, without her superiority. The Miss Crawleys were laughing so immoderately, at Mr. Giles Arbe's requesting them to be quiet, that they did not find out that the rehearsal was begun: and the rest of the ladies had seized the moment of performance, for communicating to one another innumerable little secrets, which never so aptly occur as upon such occasions; Miss Sycamore
