One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
ters, beer amiably manifest, owing to the flourishes of a military
band. Boys, who had shaken room through their magical
young corporations for fresh stowage, darted out of a
chasing circle to the crumbled cornucopia regretfully forsaken
fifteen minutes back, and buried another tart. Plenty
still reigned: it was the will of the Master that it should.
We divert our attention, resigned in stoic humour, to the
bill of the Concert music, handed us with our tickets at the
park-gates: we have no right to expect refreshment; we came
for the music, to be charitable. Signora Bianca Luciani: of
whom we have read almost to the hearing her; enough to
make the mistake at times. The grand violinist Durandarte:
forcibly detained on his way to America. Mr. Radnor sent
him a blank cheque:—no!—so Mr. Radnor besought him in
person: he is irresistible; a great musician himself; it is becoming
quite the modern style. We have now English noblemen
who play the horn, the fife—the drum, some say! We
may yet be Merrie England again, with our nobles taking
the lead.
England’s nobles as a musical band at the head of a marching
and dancing population, pictured happily an old Conservative
country, that retained its members of aristocracy in
the foremost places while subjecting them to downright uses.
Their ancestors, beholding them there, would be satisfied
on the point of honour; perhaps enlivened by hearing them
at fife and drum.
But middle-class pedestrians, having paid five shillings for
a ticket to hear the music they love, and not having full assurance
of refreshment, are often, latterly, satirical upon their
superiors; and, over this country at least, require the refreshment,
that the democratic sprouts in them may be reconciled
with aristocracy. Do not listen to them further on the
subject. They vote safely enough when the day comes, if there
is no praetematurally strong pull the other way.
They perceive the name of the Hon. Dudley Sowerby,
fourth down the Concert-bill; marked for a flute-duet with
Mr. Victor Radnor, Miss Nesta Victoria Radnor accompanying
at the piano. It may mean? … do you want a whisper
to suggest to you what it may mean? The father’s wealth is
enormous; the mother is a beautiful majestic woman in her
prime. And see, she sings: a wonderful voice. And lower down,
a duet with her daughter: violins and clarionet; how funny;
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