(She chooses a cavatina from "The Pirates," with variations. The introduction begins with e flat in unison. Lizzie strikes e in unison and the same in the bass, and exclaims: "There, mamma, didn't I tell you so? I don't remember it now." Mr. Shepard enters, steps up hastily, and puts her finger on e flat.)
Shepard. Pardon me, Herr Dominie, I will only set her going: it makes her a little confused to play before such connoisseurs; she loses her eyesight. Don't you see, Lizzie, there are three flats in the signature?
John S. Courage now! Aha! Lizzie can't get at the pedal, the bull-dog is lying over it. John, take him out.
(After the removal of the bull-dog, Lizzie plays as far as the fourth bar, when she strikes c sharp instead of c, and stops.)
Mrs. S. Never mind, begin again. Herr Dominie is pleased to hear that: he has gone through it all with his own children.
(Lizzie begins again at the beginning, and goes on to the eighth bar, where she sticks fast.)
Shepard. Don't make me ashamed of you, Lizzie. Now begin once more: a week ago it went quite tolerably.
(Lizzie begins once more, and plays or rather scrambles through it, as far as the eighteenth bar; but now it is all over with her, and she gets up.)
Dominie. Skip the introduction, it is too difficult: begin at once on the theme.
John S. (to his wife). We will go away and leave the gentlemen alone. By and by, gentlemen, we will talk about it further over a cup of tea.