(The sixteen-year-old Susan, pretty but penniless, takes the fancy of Lady Catherine, who – feeling rather dull and bored after the marriage of her daughter Miss de Bourgh – decides to take her under her wing.)
Lady Catherine started, saying, ‘Nay, I was not asleep. You should take care not to sink your tone at the end of a section, Miss Smithson. Now, be so good as to play to me upon the pianoforte.’
Susan seated herself at the instrument, recalling an early work by Corri, which she had recently memorised. Lady Catherine beat time with her forefinger throughout and at its conclusion announced that she had always been devoted to Haydn. But when Susan enquired whether she might like another air, she said, ‘No. You may go, Miss Smithson – but come tomorrow at half-past two, to read to me again.’
Susan, hiding her dancing eyes, promised to attend her with the greatest pleasure. However, back at home, Aunt Emily took some time to believe her. ‘What, Her Ladyship summoned you, and with such little ceremony? And you read for so long a time?’
‘I doubt she was aware of the time, for I was quite hoarse by the end of it.’
‘And you are really to return tomorrow?’
‘So she said, though she might as easily dispatch me home again. She might go out – she might forget. She is – capricious.’
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