The instrument was unlocked, every body prepared to be charmed, and Marianne, who sang very well, at their request went through the chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain ever since in the same position on the pianoforte, for her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving up music, although by her mother's account, she had played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
De piano werd opengesloten, ieder maakte zich gereed om verrukt te zijn, en Marianne, die heel goed zong, nam op hun verzoek de meeste liederen door, die Lady Middleton bij haar huwelijk in de familie had meegebracht, en die misschien al dien tijd onaangeroerd op de piano hadden gelegen; want de bewuste dame had ter eere van die heugelijke gebeurtenis de muziek laten varen, hoewel zij, naar haar moeder beweerde, prachtig te spelen placht, en er, volgens haar eigen verklaring veel van hield.