And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.’
‘Charmin’! charmin’! absolutely, truly excellent!’ said the Honourable Falkland Aylmer, R.N. ‘Emphasis perfect, very clear and distinct intonation, but there’s one triflin’ thing I noticed—slight departure from “well of English undefiled”—probably Australian fashion; excuse me for alludin’ to it.’
‘Oh, of course, certainly!’ said Hermione. ‘I know I’m only “a despisable colonist” (as the author of Sam Slick said), but mother and father are rather purists, and we fancied that we spoke tolerable English.’
Falkland Aylmer’s blue eyes danced with mischief and merriment at his successful ‘draw,’ thinking the while how handsome the girl looked with sudden glance and heightened colour; but putting on an expression of exaggerated humility he said, ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have noticed—rather rude, of course—but you and Miss Vanda are so perfect in intonation generally, that I thought I would venture just to hint——’
‘On the contrary, I feel sure,’ said Hermione, with a certain stateliness of manner, ‘that my people would hold themselves deeply indebted to you for pointing out any provincialisms—no twang, I trust?’
[390]
]By this time the rest of the family had gathered round, amused and expectant.
‘Pray don’t keep us waiting, Mr. Aylmer,’ said Vanda. ‘You don’t know Hermie when she’s roused, though she looks so quiet.’ Here every one burst out laughing; her amiability being proverbial.
‘If I must, I must—I rely on the mercy of the Court’—here he lowered his voice to a deep and impressive bass—‘but you can’t deny that you pronounce the final “g.”’