Mrs. Dodd was profoundly disgusted, but
fortunately for the Hardies, caught sight of his burning cheeks and
compressed lips. "Dr. Sampson," said she, with cold dignity, "you will, I
am sure, oblige me by making no more comments; sincerity is not always
discreet; but it is always respectable: it is one of your own titles to
esteem. I dare say," added she with great sweetness, "our resources are
not so narrow that we need shock anybody's prejudices, and, as it
happens, I was just going to ask Julia to sing: open the piano, love, and
try if you can persuade Miss Hardie to join you in a duet."
At this, Jane and Julia had an earnest conversation at the piano, and
their words, uttered in a low voice, were covered by a contemporaneous
discussion between Sampson and Mrs. Dodd.
_Jane._ No, you must not ask me: I have forsworn these vanities. I have
not opened my piano this two years.
_Julia._ Oh, what a pity; music is so beautiful; and surely we can choose
our songs, as easily as our words; ah, how much more easily.
_Jane._ Oh, I don't go so far as to call music wicked: but music in
society is _such_ a snare.
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