She laughed, glad of a chance to let emotions relax for a moment.
“Padlock Day! Do you mean——”
“There are too many Mrs. Brocklebanks about.”
“But surely——”
“You would be surprised if I were to tell you how some of my choice things used to be pilfered on these party days. Now I shut up my business premises on these state occasions, for fear the Mrs. Brocklebanks should bring trowels in their sunshades.”
“And instead, you give them good music?”
“Which they don’t listen to, and they could not appreciate it if they did.”
“You are severe!”
“Am I? Supposing these men gave us the Second Hungarian Rhapsody, how could you expect the people to understand it? In fact, it is not a thing to be understood, but to be felt. Our good friends would be shocked if they felt as Liszt probably meant people to feel it. Blood and wine and garlands and fire in the eyes. Well, how did you like Latimer?”
The blood rose again to her face, and she knew that the same light was in his eyes.