Kendal the information that Mr.
Cavendish Dusautoy had been so obliging as to desire his servant to
bring his guitar and key-bugle.
'We are much obliged,' said Albinia, 'but look at that face!' and she
turned Lucy towards Willie's open-mouthed, dismayed countenance. You
must tell him the company are not sufficiently advanced in musical
science.'
'But mamma, it would gratify him!'
'Very likely'--and without listening further, Albinia turned to
Willie, who had all day been insisting that papa should introduce her
to the new game of the Showman.
Infinitely delighted to be relieved from the fear of the guitar,
Willie hunted all who would play into another room; whence they were
to be summoned, one by one, back to the drawing-room by the showman,
Mr. Ferrars, who shrugged his shoulders at the task, but undertook
it, and first called for Mrs. Kendal.
She found him stationed before the red curtains, which were closely
drawn, and her husband and the three elder ladies sitting by as
audience.
'Pray, madam, may I ask what animal you would desire to have
exhibited to you, out of the vast resources that my menagerie
contains. Choose freely, I undertake that whatever you may select,
you shall not be disappointed.'
'What, not if I were to ask for a black spider monkey?' said Albinia,
to whom it was very charming to be playing with Maurice again.
Mr. Kendal looked up in entertained curiosity, Mrs.
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