He laughed at the notion of sending me up to the garrets, and then poked
himself into the concert-room.
Oh, but I forgot to mention Dr. Harrington, with whom I 'had much
conversation, and who was dry, comical, and very agreeable. I also saw
Mr. Henry, but as Miss L-- was not present, nothing ensued.[125]
Miss C-- herself brought me a cup of ice, the room being crowded that
the man could not get near me. How ridiculous to invite so many more
people than could be accommodated! Lord Mulgrave was soon sick of
the heat, and finding me distressed what to do with my cup, he very
good--naturedly took it from me, but carried not only that, but himself
also, away, which I did not equally rejoice at.
You may laugh, perhaps, that I have all this time said never a word of
the music, but the truth is I heard scarce a note. There were quartettos
and overtures by gentlemen performers whose names and faces I know not,
and such was the never ceasing rattling and noise in the card-room,
where I was kept almost all the evening, that a general humming of
musical sounds, and now and then a twang, was all I could hear.
Nothing can well be more ridiculous than a concert of this sort; and Dr.
Harrington told me that the confusion amongst the musicians was equal
to that amongst the company; for that, when called upon to open the
concert, they found no music. The Miss C--'s had prepared nothing, nor
yet solicited their dilettante's to prepare for them. Miss Harrington,
his daughter, who played upon the harpsichord, and by the very little I
could sometimes hear, I believe very well, complained that she had never
touched so vile an instrument, and that she was quite disturbed at being
obliged to play upon it.
About the time that I got against the door, as I have mentioned, of the
music room, the young ladies were preparing to perform, and with the
assistance of Mr. Henry, they sang catches. Oh, such singing! worse
squalling, more out of tune, and more execrable in every respect, never
did I hear. We did not get away till late.