.

The contralto of the century, Giulia." And Signora Evanci smiled and nodded agreement, patting Diana's hand, and reminded Baroni that it was time for his afternoon cup of consomme.

She was a comfortable feather-bed of a woman, whose mission in life it seemed to be to fend off from her brother all sharp corners, and to see that he took his food at the proper intervals and changed into the thick underclothing necessitated by the horrible English climate.
"But it will want much training, your voice," continued Baroni, turning once more to Diana.

"It is so beeg that it is all over the place--it sounds like a clap of thunder that has lost his way in a back garden." And he smiled indulgently.

"To bee-gin with, you will put away all your songs--every one.