"Beautiful! beautiful!" said Mrs. Baldwin, speaking to Clara. "I think I never heard a sweeter voice. I wonder who she can be? Do you know?" and she turned to a lady at her side.
"I do not, madam," replied the lady. "I don't remember ever to have seen her before."
The young lady sang one or two more songs, and then rose from the piano, and was received upon the arm of Doctor B—, who treated her with marked politeness. After conducting her to a seat, he introduced two or three gentlemen who came forward, and leaving them to entertain her, went to look after other guests who required his attentions.
"She sings exquisitely, doctor," remarked a gentleman who encountered Doctor B— as he was moving away from the lady.
"Delightfully," was replied.
"But, doctor, my daughter tells me that she is her music teacher."
"That's one side of the case," returned Doctor B—. "The other is, that she is the sister of Doctor Hudson, who is destined to be one of the most eminent surgeons in the country; and is, so far as herself is concerned, a lady in every sense of the word, and one that I feel proud to number among my guests. The world would be better, my friend, if there were more in it like Miss Hudson."
"Is she a woman of education?"
"She is highly educated, I am told by Doctor Baldwin, to whom she is engaged in marriage—"
"Engaged to Doctor Baldwin!" exclaimed the friend.