Palmer decided to send word to the poet-dramatist intimating that a young lady in whom he had heard Mr.Gay was interested was about to sing at one of the Great Room concerts and begging for the honour of his patronage.

But he said nothing to Lavinia about this.

All he remarked was that she should sing at his concert on the following Wednesday, and Lavinia went away in a dream of pleasurable anticipation.
The eventful night came.

Lavinia was full of enthusiasm but horribly nervous.

She felt she was competing with the two greatest composers of music in the world.