After considerable diplomatic finessing and resort to that most efficacious auxiliary, “Papa’s cheque book,” Miss Stanhope had secured the services of the two great operatic luminaries to sing at a grand musicale given by her.
All the “swell set” of Boston and New York thronged the palacious home of the Stanhope’s on the occasion. The gray-haired, courtly governor of Massachusetts was chatting as gaily with petite Bessie Winthrop as he had done with her grandmother a half century before. Foreign diplomatists and Federal potentates discussed in corners the comparative merits of Italian and German composers of music; literary lights from all over New England joined the musical element of New York and Boston in filling the Stanhope’s halls.
“I insisted upon coming here tonight, Alice, even though this over-worked husband of mine did complain of a headache at dinner and I was loathe to have him accompany me. You remember this is the anniversary of my wedding and I wished to celebrate the day,” said Lucy Burton to the hostess when at last Burton had managed to make a way for himself and wife through the crowded rooms and reached the place where Miss Stanhope was receiving her guests.
“I am awfully glad you came, dear. We are sure to have a treat. Signor Capello has promised to sing something from the new opera by Herman that has just been produced in Berlin,” and addressing Burton Miss Stanhope added,
“I trust that your headache has disappeared.”
“Thank you, Miss Alice, it has entirely vanished under the influence of my charming wife’s ministrations, and the brilliant gathering about me here,” replied Burton.
“A slight pallor and circles around sad eyes, you know, Mr. Burton, give an exceedingly interesting and romantic appearance to dark men,” rejoined Alice Stanhope smiling in spite of her effort not to do so when she noticed the anxious, worshiping look with which Lucy regarded her husband.
“Really, I believe Lucy is more in love than she was a year ago,” said the laughing hostess as she turned to receive the German Ambassador, who had traveled all the way from Washington in the hope of hearing selections from Herman’s new opera.
In all that gathering of fair women and gallant men, there was no couple so noticeable as the splendid pair who this day one year before were wedded.