Bessie and Mrs. Bristow therefore contrived to get a tolerably good position in the fourth row of the area.
A young man, evidently moving in a superior class to themselves, had been of essential service to the two females in protecting them from the pressure of the crowd during their progress towards the entrance.
After waiting patiently for some considerable time the audience began to be restive.
Many began to hammer on the boards with their feet, while others clapped their hands.
“Hush! silence! order!” exclaimed several voices.
“What are they making a noise for?” inquired Bessie, of the gentleman by her side.
“Oh! it is time the performance commenced,” he answered, “and the people are getting impatient. They ought not to do so, seeing that the performers give their services gratuitously; and that, moreover, many of them are novices, and, perhaps, appear publicly this evening for the first time.”
“Certainly,” said Mrs. Bristow. “People are so inconsiderate――so unreasonable.”
These were stereotyped phrases which the speaker was accustomed to make use of on every occasion.
The gentleman merely nodded his acquiescence to the proposition.
A burst of applause announced the appearance of a young man on the platform, who proceeded in a most deliberate manner to place the piano in a better position. When this had been done he placed some music on the instrument, and drew forth a small music-stand, which he furnished in a similar manner.
Having completed these arrangements he retired.
A titter was heard in the house as he left.
He was well known to most of those present, and, as a natural consequence, he was loudly cheered.
He bowed, and then sat down to the piano.
He played a difficult piece by Mendelssohn in a masterly manner. It was too long to encore, so they contented themselves with applauding it.
The performer still retained his position at the instrument.
A group of choristers entered. These were composed of boys and adults.
They sang a selection from the “Messiah” in a way which appeared to give great satisfaction, some portions of it being encored.
Two other performers now made their appearance, the first being Charles Peace, the other a tall gentleman, whose name was not announced; he, however, bore in his hands a bass viol.