.

Patricia makes her debut.
For three days we had been overseeing the details.

Would they approve the result?
Would they think the grand piano in the proper corner?
Were the garlands hung too low?
Was the balcony scheme effective?
Was our menu for the supper satisfactory?
Were there too many lanterns?
Lord and Lady Brighthelmston had superintended so little, and we so much, that we felt personally responsible.
Now came musicians with their instruments.

The butler sent four melancholy Spanish students to the balcony, where they began to tune mandolins and guitars, while an Hungarian band took up its position, we conjectured, on some extension or balcony in the rear, the existence of which we had not guessed until we heard the music later.

Then the butler turned on the electric light, and the family came into the drawing-rooms.
They did admire them as much as we could wish, and we, on our part, thoroughly approved of the family.