“Of course I could not threaten him; but I told him the distressing truth, that I am very much afraid I shall fail if compelled to attempt a solo in public, for I know the audience at Mrs. Brompton’s will be critical, and I feel extremely timid.”

“And he dared you—­under penalty of his everlasting wrath—­to break down?  Forbade you at your peril, to allow your frightened heart to beat the long-roll, or the tattoo?”

“No, though very positive, he was kind, and urged me to exert my will; reminding me that the effort was in behalf of destitute orphans, and that the charitable object should stimulate me.”

“Charity!  Madame Roland incautiously blundered in her grand apostrophe, hastily picked up the wrong word to fling at the heads of her brutal tormentors.  Had she lived in this year of grace, she would certainly have said:  ’Oh, Charity! how much hypocrisy is practised in thy name!’ How many grim and ghastly farces are enacted in thy honour!  Oh, Charity! heavenly maid! what solemn shameful shams are masked beneath thy celestial garments?  Of late this fashionable amusement called ‘Charity’ has risen to the dignity of a fine art; and old-fashioned Benevolence that did its holy work silently and slyly in a corner, forbidding left hand to eavesdrop, or gossip with right hand, would never recognize its gaudy, noisy, bustling modern sister.  Understand, it is not peculiar to our own great city,—­is a rank growth that flourishes all over America, possibly elsewhere.  At certain seasons, when it is positively wicked to eat chicken salad, porter-house steak, and boned turkey, and when the thought of attending the usual round of parties gives good people nightmare, and sinful folks yet in the bonds of iniquity a prospective claim to the pleasant and enticing style of future amusements which Orcagna painted at Pisa, then Charity rushes to the rescue of ennuied society, and mercifully bids it give Calico Balls for a Foundling Hospital, or The Musicale for the benefit of a Magdalen Home, or a Cantata and Refreshments to build a Sailors’ Bethel, or help to clothe and feed the destitute.  A few ladies dash around in open carriages and sell tickets, and somebody’s daughters make ample capital for future investments, as Charity Angels, by riding, dancing, singing, and eating in becoming piquant costumes, for the ‘benefit of the afflicted poor.’”

“Oh, Olga! how unjustly severe you are!  How exceedingly uncharitable!  How can you think so meanly of the people with whom you associate intimately?”

“I assure you I am not maligning ‘our set,’ only refer to a universal tendency of this advancing age.  I merely strip the outside rind, and look at the kernel, and therefore I ‘see the better, my dear,’ horrified little rustic Red Ridinghood!  Now, you are quite in earnest, and you trudge along carrying your alms to this poor old Grandmother Charity; but before long you will have your eyes opened roughly, and learn as I did