Then she suggested: “Perhaps something lighter now? Another song has just come to me, and I believe we can all sing this one together! Would you like to hear it?”
“Oh, indeed!” Enthusiasm was unanimous, minus one.
Mariana went to the pianoforte again to pick out the tune, while Delilah watched to learn it.
“I think... C, G, and E... then C D F D E C D C, like so... yes,precisely.”
“Oh, that’s delightful.” Delilah was pleased as she tried it. “Quite sprightly!”
“Wonderful! Now when I bring my hands together like this”—Mariana clapped them—“I’d like you all to give a clap, too. So watch carefully. You’ll know why in a moment. Mrs. Hardy, shall we?”
Delilah launched into the tune, and Marianawaited two bars before she turned to the room full of happy, expectant faces and sang:
“Oh, I’m a lord of great valor and honor.”
At least that’s what he told her before he climbed on ’er...
...stairsto theballroom to partake in a ball
But to the occasion he could not rise, only fall!
“What’s taking so long?” cried the maiden fair.
“Have pity,” he said, “and patience, I pray.
“I’ve a stick up me CLAP and gray in me hair!
“I’ve a stick up me CLAP and gray in me hair!”
Delilah’s delighted face slowly devolved into wide-eyed alarm while her fingers, seemingly independent of her horror, continued to move over the keyboard. Angelique had frozen, astounded, staring at Mariana.
Everyone else—save one person, of course—wasthrilled. They cried out in delight. Mr. Delacorte slapped the table and hooted.
“Are you ready to sing with me?” Mariana enthused. “Everyone now!”
Mr. Delacorte, Dot, and Mrs. Pariseau joined her in such full voice that they didn’t notice Delilah stopped playing the pianoforte midway through.
“Oh, I’m a lord of great valor and honor.”
At least that’s what he told her before he climbed on ’er...
Stairsto the ballroom to partake in a ball
Butto the occasion he could not rise, only fall!
“What’s taking so long?” cried the maiden fair.
“Have pity,” he said, “and patience, I pray.
“I’ve a stick up me CLAP and gray in me hair!
“I’ve a stick up me CLAP and gray in me hair!
“I’ve a stick up me CLAP and gray in me hair!”
Most of her audience fell about laughing and applauding.
Two of them were cautiously gauging the temperature of the room to see if everyone understood what had really just happened.
