.
So! You haf come back from your visit to the country? And how goes it with the voice ?" "I expect I'm a bit rusty after my holiday," she replied diplomatically, fondly hoping to pave the way for more lenient treatment than had been accorded to the luckless student of oratorio. Unfortunately, however, it chanced to be one of those sharply chilly days to which May occasionally treats us.
Baroni frankly detested cold weather--it upset both his nerves and his temper--and Diana speedily realised that no excuses would avail to smooth her path on this occasion. "Scales," commanded Baroni, and struck a chord. She began to sing obediently, but at the end of the third scale he stopped her. "Bah! It sounds like an elephant coming downstairs! Be-r-r-rump.