Music at home

Bildunterschrift: Hostess (to new Footman, after the Guests have departed). "By the bye, James, you brought in the tea just as Signor Papagenuccio began to sing. How could you make such as mistake as that?" New Footman. "Beg pardon, ma'am, but the company never left off talking till the singing began, and I was afraid of interrupting the conversation."