The Disagreeable Woman

woman from Macy's. There was a difficulty as I had to look round the "Disagreeable Woman," who sat next to me. Then I

red her the salt or the pepper, a piece of attention quite new to[Pg 83] him. I had some thought of suggesting to Miss Canby that she had awakened an interest in the heart of the

ate as had no other engagements, would remain after supper and gather in the littl

strident voice, such as one would not willingly hear a second time, but out of courtesy we listened, and applauded. The widow had one

after the Count's arrival th

sing, Count

le, madam,

alian, and all Ita

nt disclaimer, b

id, persuasively, "and sing some swee

sing Italian

t th

ng 'Sweet

to hear it. I sometimes sing a

much to hear

t singing[Pg 85] to an Italian

would not b

Our friends always in

n the evening she sang

one of surprise. Then of pain, and it seemed to me of annoyance. When Mrs. Wyman had complet

o horribly?

answered the C

e seemed ver

, n

ink it was

never heard an

g

he said, smiling with delight.

eed

next the Disag

than I thought," she said

d anything like it?"

es

he young woman from Macy

ittle in my country

for ins

ng 'Annie

It is a general favorite.

ithout an accompanim

g

a musician, but

annot claim for her anything out of the common on the score of musical talent, she rendered

is old as

etorted, "but the b

said the Count, who

d to annoy

Count, to compliment such a

gnora, I

ss! She did her

a nice

Macy's. She was born in the[Pg 88] countr

but evidently regar

ned attentively to the song of the ma

ou sing beaut

anby s

Prof. Poppendorf," s

ing much better t

y that. She sings a

ter your le

succeeded in extracting a pr

"can't you play the acc

is the

et Ma

g

best. I am not

had a pleasant, sympathetic voice,

d Mrs. Wyman; "I shall never d

ot, si

are such a mu

gnora!" he said

again, and again he ple

r us with a song?" asked Mrs.

"There is so much musical talent here, that I won

g

t you ever sing?" asked

as young," answered the

do fav

rinking song, such as in days gone by he had sung w

not unpleasant. No one was more surprised than Mrs.

n, "you are more accomplished than I supposed.

s glasses, and we saw in hi

he old days. I have not[Pg 91] sing that song since I was at the university with Bismarck. The

was conversation, and later Mrs. Gray provided ice-cream and cake. I

ofessor found himself si

o the theatre, fr

cannot go alone, and th

ake you,

med of such an invitation from him. Yet she was very fond o

she[Pg 92] said. "I did not th

go-with you," h

I wi

ith my grandfather," she