Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-11
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER II.
"Mademoiselle has the voice Of a ros-
siCnol, " announced Purrini.
AT homo we always say she sings
like lark " remarked Aunt Mildred.
What is a rossiguolY'
II know, said Mary, who was en-
Ferly thumbing an eloquently misusod
pocket dictionary; "r-o-s-s-i-g-n-o-l-
nightingale.
Il never heard nightingale, " said
Aunt Mildred enthusiastically. "The
question is, professor, will she be ablo
to sing in grand opera"
Purrini rubbed his hands together
and lifted his eyebrows quizzically.
"There are 1000 American girls i'll
Europe today" no affirmed, with APP
parent irrclevance "who are studying
for grand opera. II mademoiscllo sue
ceeds it will be all the moro triumph,
will it not?'
Il always thought I'd like to sing
like Patti or Melba, announced
Priscilla. 1T seems so easy for them to
fire off those little roulades and then
dip down like swallows before the foot
lights and then run of the stage like
schoolgirls who have done nothing
whatsoever but amuse themselves.
III 'm-ml' murmured Pulrini.
"a friend of mine told me that one
of the De Reszkes told her, " cried Aunt
Mildred shrilly that the American
voices are the finest in the world. DO
you think it is true, professors"
II have never been Ill America, " re-
marked Purrini evasively, "but it is
none the less quite possible.
"How nice these foreigners are,
thought Aunt Mildred, $50 suave if a
little noncommittal. Their manner is
far more elegant than ours. To hit
straight between the eyes the way we
do at home is SO unpleasant.
Let me see, " unused Priscilla out
loud. "There will be the four lessons Il
week at % francs lesson, and the die
ton lesson at 0 francs and the French
lessons at francs, and ultimately the
acting lessons. Is that all, professor"
''C'est tout" Purrini assured her af-
fably, with unconscious irony.
"How many months do you think it
will take for me to perfect myself"
THAT depends upon the intelligence
of mademoiselle.
about year," suggested Aunt Mil
dred encouragingly.
Purrini frowned suddenly and fierce
". Then he remembered who and what
no was and concealed the frown with q
spasmodic grin.
Possibly" he said,
"What is diction lesson" question
ed Mary.
"The art of learning to sing in French.
1t is totally different from speaking,
You know.
81 don't see why, remarked Aunt
Mildred obstinately.
Mon Dieu, gu ellie est bavarde, cette
vieille" muttered Purrini as he turned
and showed them to the door. "A Lun-
d. alors, mademoiselle?"
Yes, l will come for my first lesson
on Monday" said Priscilla
Il think" she said later, aloud, as
the three walked slowly up the Rue de
la Paix, glistening with magnificent
equipages, odoriferous of iris from
Guerlain's famous perfumery, brilliant
with exquisitely dressed women and tho
frou frou of fashion and folly-"I think
it will probably take me about two
years to get there. She pointed to tie
Grand Opera facade, from which stream
ed the French flags. There had been "
fete the day before, and all Paris had
gonc holidaying. Priscilla was already
imagining, girlishly, the delighted as
pect of her rapt audiences, tho strange
pew feeling of power which would be
hers with the fultillmcnt Of her hopes
che cableGrams which would speed
across the ocean, the celebrity she would
become. She saw IA familiar pretty face,
well known on both continents, fit
from carriage into DoucCt's doorway
Somebody i'll the passing crowd turned
and whispered a name, ltwas an Amer
lean name which had set both CONT
nents agog because of its owners beauty
and vocal aspirations.
1.-TWO years, " repeated Aunt Mildred.
$50 much the better That will give me
time TO look around bit at the gal
leries, order some stunning gowns 10
take homo with me and dip lightly
into the French language Would you
mind walking home alone with Mary,
my dear? feel like an English frumE
III these travelling toys, All, there i,
Mr.. Stornmouth, thank fortunel lie
will escort you and Mary home, l am
sure ="
"Delighted, said Stornmouth. HC
was lifting his hat. He was suporbly
well groomed IIo wore Il small bunch
of Parma violets in his buttonhole Hi:
fine head was surmounted by tile in,
stead Of a travelling cap.
AS Priscilla looked up at his greeting
and flushed wildly with pleasure she
wondered why he appeared 50 different
now from what he had seemed on tho
steamc- He looked older-to be de
pended upon. She liked him. Eve,
since last night, when he had place.
them in that queer little yellow omni
bus at the St Lazare station she haC
wondered wistfuliy when she SHOULD
see him again.
Aunt Mildred nodded, smiled, waved
gloved hand and disappeared through
two bevclcd glass doors presided ovcl
by miniature page in buttons.
"Let's walk up tho boulevard" sug
gested Stornmouth, land then arounC
to the Rue de Rivoli, to Colombin IS
Z tho tea place Everybody goes there
You will see your worst enemy anC