after having ourselves whipped into fine musical shape by both signor fracelli and hepzibah van pelt , we have been going about and giving concerts in various places round the town , only the finest and most proper of houses , to be sure-the saltonstalls ' , the lowells ' , a few cabot mansions here and there , the thwackhams ' , the de lises ' ... ah , yes , the house of the de lise ... again my quill lifts from the paper ... that was something when we performed at lissette 's place and were treated to tea and cakes after we sang in the comte 's elegant hall , with clarissa acting like she owned the place , she having stayed there so many weekends .