He kissed the hand of the overdressed girl as devotedly as he had kissed mine; he told her she was looking charmingly.

Then he led her, with his happy mixture of admiration and respect, back to the door by which she had entered--a second door communicating directly with the hall.
"No apology is necessary, my dear," he said.

"This lady is with me on a matter of business.

You will find your singing-master waiting for you upstairs.

Begin your lesson; and I will join you in a few minutes.