The Argosy — page 157: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

142 Our Amateur Concert. . Trouble soon arose, I regret to say, to mar the pleasure of good Mrs. Smallwood in her project. ‘The programme was being drawn out one afternoon by a committee of the artistes, led, of course, by little Sutton, eye-glasses and all—and witnessed with much interest by our host and hostess and all the rest of the house party. ‘* Now,” cried Mrs. Smallwood, who, though no performer, superintended the general ' arrangements with great zest, and had, moreover, sufficient musical taste and knowledge to make valuable suggestions ; ‘* Now, Edward, read us the programme so far!” Little Sutton, the ‘‘ Edward ” addressed, complied and started off. ‘First Part opens with glee, ‘ The Matadores!’ the Misses Markham, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Downs.” Fanny and Annie blushed and smiled at each other. ‘ Pianoforte Solo,” went on the reader, ‘ (a) Chro- matic Fugue, Bach; (b) Demon Dance, Liszt, Mr. E. Sutton.” He coloured slightly, raised his eyebrows, settled his glasses anew, darted a complex sort of look at the unconscious Fred Hardwicke, and continued. ‘Song, ‘ The Ruffian,’ Mr. Downs; Ballad, ‘The Fairy’s Home,’ Miss Fanny Markham ; Pianoforte Solo, Variations on the well- known air ‘ Robin Adair,’ Thalberg, Miss Ella Dean.” “T shall never be able to do it!” cried poor Ella, and then grew scarlet at her hardihood in making the statement. Sutton looked in pitying kindness. “Oh yes, you will, Miss Ella,” he said, consolingly. ‘You mustn’t be frightened.” ‘Then he resumed his reading. “Duet, ‘False Vows,’ the Misses Fanny and Annie Markham ; Song, ‘Oh! Star of Night,’ Mr. Wilson; Pianoforte Solo ”__the little stuck-up beggar paused, and I fancied ] detected a sneer as he announced ‘‘ Adagio and Rondo, from Sonata in A flat, Beethoven, Mr. Fred Hardwicke.” Fred, however, noticed nothing. ‘ Duet (Vocal), ‘Your Money or Your Life!’ Mr. Downs and Mr. Wilson.” Mrs. Smallwood here interrupted. “I think, Edward” (Sutton was a sort of distant relative), ‘‘it would be a great addition to the programme if you and Mr. Hardwicke could give us a pianoforte duet.” Little Sutton said nothing, but Fred, who is rather a good-natured fellow, cried out, “‘ All right, Mrs. Smallwood, I’ve no objection: We might get up “The Thiindérstotm Galop !?” turning to Sutton. ** We'll settle who’s to have treble and who bass by-and-by,” continued Fred. Sutton coloured angrily, as if he thought there should be no question of that. And now a diversion occurred. Old Mr. Biddlecombe (Mrs. Smallwood’s uncle—a rich stock broker) had been listening with an expression of absorbed interest up to now; and when he heard this proposition to introduce a new item, in the shape of a pianoforte duet, into the programme, he seemed to pluck up courage to say EO MMIC NCO <S,(6O) m ae