half-waythrough.
/*"ThentoSilvialetussing,ThatSilviaisexcellingSheexcelseachmortalthingUponthedullearthdwelling.Toherletusgarlandsbring,"*/
sangElsbethSiddons.
"Ah!"Claraexclaimedoutloud,andclappedherglovedhandsandJacobclappedhisbareonesandthenshemovedforwardanddirectedpeopletocomeinfromthedoorway.
"YouarelivinginLondon?"askedMissJuliaEliot.
"Yes,"saidJacob.
"Inrooms?"
"Yes."
"ThereisMr.Clutterbuck.YoualwaysseeMr.Clutterbuckhere.Heisnotveryhappyathome,Iamafraid.TheysaythatMrs.Clutterbuck…"shedroppedhervoice."That'swhyhestayswiththeDurrants.WereyoutherewhentheyactedMr.Wortley'splay?Oh,no,ofcoursenot—atthelastmoment,didyouhear—youhadtogotojoinyourmother,Iremember,atHarrogate—Atthelastmoment,asIwassaying,justaseverythingwasready,theclothesfinishedandeverything—NowElsbethisgoingtosingagain.ClaraisplayingheraccompanimentorturningoverforMr.Carter,Ithink.No,Mr.Carterisplayingbyhimself—ThisisBACH,"shewhispered,asMr.Carterplayedthefirstbars.
"Areyoufondofmusic?"saidMr.Durrant.
"Yes.Ilikehearingit,"saidJacob."Iknownothingaboutit."
"Veryfewpeopledothat,"saidMrs.Durrant."Idaresayyouwerenevertaught.Whyisthat,SirJasper?—SirJasperBigham—Mr.Flanders.Whyisnobodytaughtanythingthattheyoughttoknow,SirJasper?"Sheleftthemstandingagainstthewall.
Neitherofthegentlemensaidanythingforthreeminutes,thoughJacobshiftedperhapsfiveinchestotheleft,andthenasmanytotheright.ThenJacobgrunted,andsuddenlycrossedtheroom.
"Willyoucomeandhavesomethingtoeat?"hesaidtoClaraDurrant.
"Yes,anice.Quickly.Now,"shesaid.
Downstairstheywent.
Buthalf-waydowntheymetMr.andMrs.Gresham,HerbertTurner,SylviaRashleigh,andafriend,whomtheyhaddaredtobring,fromAmerica,"knowingthatMrs.Durrant—wishingtoshowMr.Pilcher.—Mr.PilcherfromNewYork—ThisisMissDurrant."
"WhomIhaveheardsomuchof,"saidMr.Pilcher,bowinglow.
SoClaralefthim.