\"Youcallthataprettypicture!\"shesaiddisdainfully;\"MissBurtonreadinganewspapertotwostupidoldpeoplewhooughttobeabed!AmorehumdrumsceneIneversaw.Truly,bothyourbreathandyourwordsshowthatyouhavebeendrinkingtoomuch.ButyouneednotexpectmetoshareinyourtipsysentimentoverMissBurton.DidMr.VanBergaskyoutoshowmethismatter-of-factgroupwhich,inhisartisticjargon,youcallapicture?\"
\"Ifhehad,heshowedyouagreaterkindnessthanyoudeserved.\"
\"Yes,andagreateronethanIaskedorwishedfromhim.\"
\"ThenyouaregoingbacktodancewithSibley?\"
\"Yes,Iam.\"
\"Theprospectsare,thatyouandMrs.Chintsandacoupleofhalf-tipsymenwillsoonhaveitalltoyourselves.Isupposetheoldadageabout\'birdsofafeather\'swillstillholdgood.Iwasinhopes,however,thatevenifyouhadnoappreciationofwhatwasbeautiful,refined,andunselfishinanotherwoman\'saction,youstillhadsomeself-respect,oratleastsomefearofridicule,left.Sinceyouwon\'tlistentome,Ishallwarnyourmother.
IfSibleyandtwoorthreeothersdrinkmuchmore,Burleighwillinterfereforthecreditofhishouse.\"
\"YouhavebeendrinkingaswellasMr.Sibley.\"
\"Well,thankstoVanBerg,IstoppedbeforeIlostmyhead.\"
\"FromyourmaudlinsentimentoverMissBurton,Ithinkyouhavelostyourheadandheartboth.\"
\"Go;dancewithSibley,then,\"hesaidinsuddenirritation;\"dancewithhimtillyouandMrs.Chintsbetweenyouhavetoholdhimonhisfeet.DancewithhimtillBurleighsendsacoupleofcoloredwaiterstotakehimfromyourembraceandcarryhimofftobed.\"
Shemadeagestureofrageanddisgust,andwentstraighttoherroom.
Sibley,inthemeantime,paidalengthenedvisittohisbrandy,andhavingalreadypassedthepointofdiscretion,drankrecklessly.
Whenhedescendedthestairsagaintolookforhispartner,hisstepwasuncertainandhisutterancethick.
StantongaveMr.Burleighahintthattheyoungmanneededlookingafter,andtheadroithost,skilledinmanagingallkindsofpeopleandineverycondition,inducedhimtoreturntohisroom,underthepretenceofwishingtotastehisfineoldbrandy,andthenkepthimthereuntilthelethargicstagesetinastheresultofhisexcess.Andsoanaffair,whichmighthavecreatedmuchscandal,wassmuggledoutofsightandknowledgeasfaraspossible.Mrs.
Mayhewhadbeensooccupiedwithwhistthatshehadnotobservedthatanythingwasamiss,andmerelyremarkedthat\"Mr.Sibley\'sballhadendedearlierthanusual.\"
ChapterXVI.OutAmongShadows.
TheexpressionofIdaMayhew\'sfacewascoldanddefiantonthefollowingday.Shedidnotattendchurchwithhermother,butremainedallthemorninginherroom.ShenotonlyavoidedopportunitiesofspeakingtoVanBergwhencomingdowntodinnerandduringtheafternoon,butshewouldnotevenlooktowardshim;andhermannertowardshercousinalsowasdecidedlyicy.
\"Idon\'tknowwhatisthematterwithIda,\"hermotherremarkedtoStanton;\"shehasactedsostrangelyoflate.\"
\"It\'stheoldcomplaint,Iimagine,\"herepliedwithashrug.
\"What\'sthat?\"
\"Caprice.\"
\"Oh,well!she\'snoworsethanotherpretty,fashionablegirls,\"
saidMissMayhew,carelessly.
Stanton,inhisangeronthepreviousevening,hadnotspokenofhiscousintoVanBerginaverycomplimentaryway;buttheartistrememberedthattheyoungmanhimselfwasnotinaconditiontoformeitheracorrectorcharitablejudgment;whilethefactthatIda,asaresultofhisremonstrance,hadgonedirectlytoherroom,wasinherfavor.Hestillresolvedtosuspendhisfinalopinionandnottogiveoverhisprojectuntilsatisfiedthathernaturecontainedtoomuchalloytopermitofitssuccess.Hepaidnoheedthereforetohercoldnessofmanner;andwhenatlastmeetingherfacetofaceonthepiazzaSundayevening,heliftedhishataspolitelyaspossible.
Sibleydidnotappearuntilthearrivalofthedinnerhour.Hewasundertheimpressionthathehadgonealittletoofarthenightbefore,andtriedtomakeamendsbyanimmaculatetoiletandanurbaneyetdignifiedcourtesytowardsallwhomheknew.Societyveryreadilywinksattheindiscretionsofwealthyyoungmen.
Moreover,hehadbeeninveigledbacktohisroombeforehisconditionhadbeenobservedtoanyextent.Thereforehefoundhimselfsowellreceivedinthemain,thathesoonfullyrecoveredhiswontedself-assurance.
Mrs.Mayhewwasparticularlygracious;andIda,whoatfirsthadbeensomewhatdistanttowardshimaswellasallothers,concludedthatshehadnotsufficientcausetobeashamedofhim,andsoitcameaboutthattheyspentmuchoftheafternoonandeveningtogether.Shedidnotfailtonote,however,thatwhenheapproachedVanBerghereceivedacoldandcurtreception.Wasjealousythecauseofthis?Inherelationandexcitementonthepreviousevening,shehadbeeninclinedtothinkso,butnowshefearedthatitwasbecausetheartistdespisedtheman;andinhersecretsoulshewascompelledtoadmitthathehadreasontodespisehim——yes,todespisethemboth.Shefelt,withbitterhumiliation,thathissuperioritywasnotassumedbutreal.
Morethanoncebeforethedayclosed,shefoundherselfcontrastingthetwomen.Theonehadnothadashredoftrueworthabouthim.
Stanton,toteazeherandtojustifyhisinterference,hadtoldherthatMr.Burleighhadbeencompelledtotakechargeofhercompanioninordertopreventhimfromdisgracinghimselfandthehouse.
Althoughtooproudtoacknowledgeit,shestillsawplainlythatitwashercousin\'sinterference,andindirectlytheinterventionoftheartistthathadkeptherfrombeinginvolvedinthatdisgrace.
Evenherpervertedmindrecognizedthatonewasagentleman,andtheother——well,\"afashionableyoungman,\"asshewouldphraseit.Theone,asafriend,wouldshieldherfromeverydetractingbreath;theother,ifgivenachance,wouldinevitablytumbleintosomesloughofinfamyhimself,anddragherafterhimwithrecklessselfishness.
Still,withsomethinglikeself-loathing,shesawthatSibleywashernaturalallyandcompanion,andthatshehadfarmoreincommonwithhimthanwiththeartist.Shecouldeasilymaintainwithhimtheinanechatteroftheirfrivolouslife,butshecouldnottalkwiththeartist,norhewithher,withoutaneffortthatwasashumiliatingasitwasapparent.
Whatwasmore,shesawthatallothersclassedherwithSibley,andthatthepeopleinthehousewhowereakintotheartistincharacterandhighbreeding,stoodcourteouslybutcoollyalooffrombothherselfandhermother.Shealsofeltthatshecouldnotlayalltheblameofthisuponherpoorfather.Indeed,sincethepreviousmiserableSundayonwhichVanBerghadtriedtowinMr.Mayhewfromhisevilhabitforonedayatleast,andshehadthwartedhiskindlyintention,shehadbeguntofeelthatsheandhermotherwerethechiefcausesofhisincreasingdegradation.
Others,shefeared,andespeciallyVanBerg,tookthesameview.
Withsuchthoughtssurgingupinhermindandcloudingherbrow,Sibleydidnotfindheraltogetherthesamegirlthatshehadbeentheeveningbefore.Still,ashasbeensaid,hewashernaturalally,andshetriedtosecondhiseffortstore-establishagoodcharacterandtokeepuptheappearanceoffashionablerespect.
Stantonwasinsomethingofadilemma.HedidnotlikeSibley,andwasashamedofhisrecentexcess;buthavingdrankwithhim,andso,inasense,havingacceptedhishospitality,felthimselfobligedtoberatheraffable.Hemanagedthematterbykeepingoutofthewayasfaraspossible,andwasgladtorememberthattheyoungmanwoulddepartinthemorning.Whilescarcelyacknowledgingthefacttohimself,hewasonthealertmostofthedaytofindanopportunityofenjoyingaconversationwithMissBurton;butshekeptherselfverymuchsecluded.Afterattendingchurchataneighboringvillageinthemorning,shespentmostoftheafternoonwithMrs.Burleigh,assistingherinthecareofthecrossbaby.
VanBerg,muchtoStanton\'senvy,foundherasgenialandcheeryaseverwhentheymetatthetable.Helearned,fromhermannermorethanfromanythingshesaid,thatthedayanditsassociationsweresacredtoher.Sheaffectednosolemnityandseemedundernoconstraint,onlyherthoughtandbearinghadasomewhatsoberercoloring,liketheshadingofapicture.Tohisminditwasbutanotherexampleofherentirereticenceinregardtoherself,whilehersmilingfaceseemedasopenasthelight.
Butasshecameoutfromsupperthechildrenpounceduponher,clamorousforastory.SheassentedonconditionthatMr.Burleighwouldgivethemtheuseofoneoftheprivateparlors——astipulationspeedilycompliedwith;andsoonshehadnearlyallthesmallfolkinthehotelgatheredroundher.
\"Ishallstandwithout,likethe\'Periatthegate,\'\"Stantonfoundachancetosay.
\"Theresemblanceisverystriking,\"washersmilingreply;butforsomereasonhewincedunderitandwishedhehadnotspoken.
Whenshedismissedherlittleaudiencethereweretracesoftearsonsomeofthechildren\'sfaces,provingthatshecouldtellapathetic,aswellasajollystory;andVanBergobservedwithinteresthowthepowerofhermagnetismkeptthemlingeringnearherevenaftersheenteredtheparlorandsoughtaquietnookneartheoldgentlemanandladytowhomshehadbeenreadingthepreviousevening.
Mrs.Chints,wholikedtobeprominentonalloccasions,veryproudlyfeltthatsacredmusicwouldbetherightthingonSabbathevening,and,withafewofhewownilk,wasgivingafloridandimperfectrenderingofthatpeculiarstyleofcompositionthatsuggestsapooroperawhilemakingarathershockingandirreverentuseofwordstakenfromScriptures.
VanBergandStanton,whowereoutonthepiazza,werereadytogratetheirteethinanguish,findingthenarcoticinfluenceofthestrongestcigarnomatchforMrs.Chints\'svoice.
SuddenlythatirrepressibleladyspiedMissBurton,andsheswoopeddownuponherinacharacteristicmanner,exclaiming:
\"Youcan\'tdecline;youneedn\'tsayyoudon\'t;I\'veheardyou.IfyousinghalfaswellforusasyoudidtoMrs.Burleigh\'sbabythisafternoon,we\'llbemorethansatisfied.Nowcome;onesweetsolo——justone.\"
Stantoncranedhisneckfromwherehesattoseetheresultofthisonslaught,butMissBurtonshookherhead.
\"Well,then,won\'tyoujoininwithus?\"persistedMrs.Chints.
\"SacredmusicissolovelyandappropriateonSundaynight.\"
\"Youarerightinthatrespect,Mrs.Chints.IfitisthewishofthosepresentIthinksomesimplehymnsinwhichwecanalljoinmightbegenerallyenjoyed.\"
\"Now,mydear,youhavejusthitit,\"saidtheoldladyatherside.\"I,forone,wouldverymuchliketohearsomesimplemusiclikethatwehadwhenIwasyoung.\"
Theoldlady\'spreferencewastakenupandechoedoneveryside.
IndeedthemajoritywerereadyforanychangefromMrs.Chints\'sstridenttones.
\"Well,mydear,\"saidthelady,\"itshallbeasyousay.\"Thensheadded,\"sottovoce,\"withacomplacentnod,\"Isupposethemusicweweregivingisbeyondthemasses,butifyoucouldoncehearMadameSkaronnirenderitinourchoirattheChurchofthesomethingthatsoundedlike\'pica-ninny,\'asbyMrs.Chintspronouncedyouwouldwishfornoother.Willyouplay,mydear?\"
\"Ah,yes,pleasedo,\"exclaimedsomeofthechildrenwhohadgatheredaroundher.
\"Inmercytouspoormortalsforwhomthereisnoescapesavegoingtobed,pleasecomply,\"whisperedtheoldladyinherear.
ThelightinMissBurton\'seyeswasmirthfulratherthansacredassheroseandwenttothepiano,andatonceanairofbreezyandinterestedexpectancytooktheplaceofthepreviousboredexpression.
\"Come,Van,\"saidStanton,throwingawayhiscigar,\"we\'llneedyourtenorvoice.Wemuststandbythatlittlewoman.TheChintstribehaveincitedtoprofanitylongenough,andshallmakethenighthideousnomore.Ifwecouldonlydrowntheminsteadoftheirvoices,whatamercyitwouldbe!\"andtheyoungmenwentaroundandstoodintheopendoornearthepiano.
\"Youaretosing,\"saidMissBurton,withadecidedlittlenodatthem.
\"Weintendto,\"repliedStanton,\"sinceyouaretoaccompanyus.\"
Shestarted\"Coronation,\"thatspiritedandalwaysinspiritingbattlesongofthechurch——jubilantandmilitant——amelodythatisalsoadmirablyadaptedforblendingroughandinharmoniousvoices.
Foramomentherownvoicewaslikethatofasinginglark,mountingfromitsdaisycovert;orrather,liketheflowofasilverrillwhosemusicwassoonlost,however,inthetumultuousrushofothertributarystreamsofsound;still,thegeneraleffectwasgood,andthepeopleenjoyedit.Bythetimethesecondstanzawasreachedthemajorityweresingingwithheartygood-will,thechildrengatheringnearandjoininginwithdelight.
Otherfamiliarandold-fashionedhymnsfollowed,andthenoneandanotherbegantoaskfortheirfavorites.FortunatelyMrs.Chints\'sknowledgeofsacredmusicwaslimited,andsosheretiredonthelaurelsofhavingcalledMissBurtonout,informinghalfthecompanyofthefactwithanimportantnod;andinremembranceofthisfacttheywereinclinedtoforgivehertheanguishshehadpersonallycausedthem.
Mrs.Burleigh,whohadstolenintotheparlorforalittlewhilethatshemightenjoythesinging,rememberedthatshehadapileofnote-booksthathadgrowndustyonashelfsincethebabyhadfurnishedthemusicofthehousehold.Thesewerebrought,andhigherandfullermusicalthemeswereattempted,untilthesingersdwindledtoaquartetcomposedofaladywhohadafairsopranovoice,MissBurton,StantonandVanBerg.Theirselections,however,continuedtrulysacredincharacter,thusdifferingradicallyfromthefloridstylethatMrs.Chintshadintroduced.
ThesweetandpenetratingpowerofMissBurton\'svoicecouldnowbedistinguished.Forsomereasonitthrilledandtoucheditshearersinawaythattheycouldnotaccountfor.Themajoritypresentatoncerealizedthatshewasnot,andnevercouldbecome,agreatsinger.Butwithinthecompassofhervoice,shecouldpronouncesacredwordsinamannerthatsendthemhometothehearsofthelistenerslikeraysthatcouldbothcheerandmelt.
Atlastsherosefromthepiano,remarkingthattherewereothermusicianspresent;andnoamountofpersuasioncouldinducehertoremainthereanylonger.
\"Perhapsyougentlemenplay,\"shesaid,turningtotheyoungmenwhowereabouttodepart.\"Aman\'stouchandleadershipissomuchmoredecisiveandvigorousthanalady\'s!\"
\"Mr.VanBergplaysverywellindeed,consideringhisyouthanddiffidence!\"remarkedStanton.
\"Andhehasbeentakingadvantageofadefencelesswomanallthistime!Mr.VanBerg,ifyoudonotwishtoloseyourcharacterutterly,youmusttakemyplaceatthepiano.\"
\"Iadmit,\"hereplied,\"thatIhavetakenmorepleasurethanyouwillbelieveinyourinyourcontributiontoourevening\'senjoyment,butratherthanloseyourgoodopinionIwillattempttoplayorsinganythingyoudictate,eventhoughIputeveryoneintheparlortoflight,withtheirfingersintheirears.\"
\"Andyoufearmytastewillimposeonyousomesuchblood-curdlingcombinationofsounds?Thankyou.\"
\"Now,Van,youhavetaughtuswhatunconditionalsurrendermeans.
MissBurton,askhimtoplayandsingsomeselectionsfromtheOratoriooftheMessiah.\"
\"Areyoufamiliarwiththat?\"sheasked,withasuddenlightingupofherface.
\"Somewhatso,onlyasanamateurcanbe;butIsee,fromyourexpression,thatyouare.\"
\"I\'vecontributedmysharethisevening,\"shesaid,decisively.
\"PleasegiveussomeselectionsfromtheOratorio.\"
\"Layyourcommand,then,onStantonalso.There\'sapartthatwehavesungtogetherasaduetoccasionally,althoughitisnot\'sonominatedinthebond,\'orscore,rather.\"
\"IfMr.Stantondoesnotstandbyhisfriend,thenheshouldbelefttostandbyhimself.\"
\"Inthecorner,Isupposeyoumean.Butdonotleave,MissBurton.
IfyoudonotstandbyMr.VanBergandsingwithhimtheduetthatbeginswiththewords——
\'Odeath!whereisthysting?\'
youwilldepriveusallofthechiefpleasureoftheevening,andit\'snotinyournaturetodothat.\"
\"Please,pleasedo,MissBurton,\"criedascoreofvoices.
\"Youknownothingaboutmynature,sir.IassureyouthatIcanbeaveritabledragon.ButoutofregardforMr.VanBerg\'s\'youthanddiffidence\'Iwillsustainhim.\"
VanBerg\'svoicewasnotstrong,buthesangwithtasteandgoodexpression.Itsuggestedrefinementandcultureratherthandeep,repressedfeeling,ashadbeenthecaseinMissBurton\'ssinging.
Hisstylewouldbeadmired,andwouldnotgivemuchoccasionforcriticism,but,asageneralthing,itwouldnotstirandmovetheheart.Still,theaudiencegavecloseandpleasedattention.
IdaMayhew,whoallthistimehadbeenoutonthepiazzaandbuthalflisteningtoMr.Sibley\'scomplimentsinherattentiontothescenesatthepiano,nowroseandcametooneoftheopenwindows,where,whilehiddenfromthesinger,shecouldhearmoredistinctly.
Herfeaturesdidnotindicatethatshesharedinthepleasureexpressedontheotherfaceswithin,andhergatheringfrownwasdeepenedbytheshadowofthewindowframe.
\"Youdonotenjoyit!\"saidMr.Sibley,complacently.
\"No,\"sheanswered,laconically;butforreasonshelittleunderstood.
\"Nowyoushowyourtaste,MissMayhew.\"
\"IfearIdo.Hush!\"ButwhenVanBerg\'ssoloended,shebreathedadeepsigh.
ThenStanton\'srich,butuncultivatedbassvoicejoinedinthemelody.Stilltheeffectwasbettertahnwouldhavebeenexpectedfromamateurs.Afterafewmoments,StantonstoodbackandMissBurtonandVanBergsangtogether;theneveryoneleanedforwardandlistenedwithabreathlesshush.Hervoiceseemedtopervadehiswithsouldandfeelingthathadbeenlackinghitherto.
Asthelastrichchordsdiedaway,thestrongestexpressionofpleasurewereheardoneveryside;butIdaMayhewsteppedabruptlyoutintotheduskofthepiazzawithclenchedhandsandcompressedlips.
\"\'Peste!\'\"sheexclaimedunderherbreath.\"WhatacontrastbetweenSibleyandmyselflasteveningandthesetwopeopleto-night!WhataworsecontrasttheremighthavebeenifIkhadnotinterferedintime!Ihaveagoodvoice,buttheguestsofthehousehavenoteventhoughtofmeinconnectionwiththisevening\'sentertainment.
IamassociatedonlywiththeSibleystyleofamusements.\"
ChapterXVII.NewForcesDeveloping.
AfterMr.VanBergandMissBurtonfinishedtheselectionfromtheOratoriomentionedinthepreviouschapter,theoldwhite-hairedgentlemanatwhosesidethelatterhadbeensittingintheearlierpartoftheeveningroseandsaid:
\"Iwanttothankallthesingers,andespeciallytheyoungladyandgentlemannowatthepiano,notonlyforthepleasuretheyhavegivenusall,butalsoforthecomfortingandsustainingthoughtsthatthesacredwordshavesuggested.Myenjoymentsinthisworldarebutfew,andarefastdiminishing;andIknowthattheywillnotrefuseanoldman\'srequestthattheyclosethisserviceofsongbyeachsingingalongsomehymnthatwillstrengthenourfaithintheunseenFriendwhowatchesoverusall.\"
VanBerglookedatMissBurton.
\"Wecannotrefusesuchanappeal,\"shesaid.
\"IfearthatIshallseemahypocriteincomplying,\"VanBerganswered,inalowtone.\"HowcanImakeadistinctlyrecognizedefforttostrengthenfaithinotherswhenlackingfaithmyself.\"
Hereyesflasheduptohis,insuddenandstrongapproval.\"I
likethat,\"shesaid.\"ItalwaysgivesmeasenseofsecurityandsafetywhenImeetdownrighthonesty.Innowaycanyoubetterstrengthenourfaiththanbybeingperfectlytrue.Yougivemeagoodexampleofsincerity,\"sheaddedslowly,\"andperhapsmyhymnwillteachsubmissionmorethanfaith.WhileIamsingingityoumayfindsomethingthatwillnotexpressmorethanyoufeel.\"
Inhersweet,low,yetpenetratingvoice,thatnowhadapathoswhichmeltedeveryheart,shesangthefollowingwords,which,liketheperfumeofcrushedviolets,haveriseninprayerfrommanybruisedandbrokensprits:
\"MyGod,myfather,whileIstrayFarfrommyhomeonlife\'sroughway,Ohteachmefrommyhearttosay,Thywillbedone.
WhatthoughinlonelygriefIsighForfriendsbelovednolongernigh;
SubmissivestillwouldIreply,Thywillbedone.
Renewmywillfromdaytoday;
BlenditwithThine,andtakeawayWhate\'ernowmakesithardtosay,Thywillbedone.
ThenwhenonearthIbreathenomore,Theprayeroftmixedwithtearsbefore,I\'llsinguponahappiershore,Thywillbedone.\"
Stanton,warm-heartedandgenuinewithallhisfaults,retiredwellintotheshadowofthehallwayandlookedatthesingerthroughthelensesofsympathetictears.
\"Poororphangirl,\"hemuttered.\"Whatavillainamanwouldbewhocouldpurposeharmtoyou!\"
VanBerg,inaccordancewithhiscoolerandlessdemonstrativenature,kepthispositionatherside,butheregardedherwithanexpressionofrespectandinterestthatcausedIdaMayhew,whowaswatchingfromhercovertnear,asenseofpainandenvythatsurprisedherbyitskeenness.
Withasuddenlongingwhichindicatedthatthewishcamedirectfromfromherheart,shesighed:
\"WhatwouldInotgivetoseehimlookatmewiththatexpressiononhisface!\"
Then,startledbyherownthought,sovividhaditbeen,shelookedaroundasifinfearitwasapparenttohercompanion.
Hiseyeswereintruthbentuponher,andinthedusktheyseemedlikelividcoals.Amomentlater,aswithashrinkingsenseoffearshefurtivelylookedathimagain,hiseyessuggestedthoseofsomeanimalofpreythatispossessedonlywiththewolfishdesiretodevour,caringforthevictimonlyasitmaygratifytheravenousappetite.
Heleanedforwardandwhisperedinherear:
\"MissIda,youdonotknowhowstrangely,howtemptinglybeautifulyouareto-night.Onemightwellperilhissoulforsuchbeautyasyours.\"
\"Hush,\"shesaidimperiously,andwitharepellinggesture,shesteppedfurtherintothelighttowardsthesingers.
\"Then,whenonearthIbreathenomore,\"sangMissBurton.
Thethoughtwastotheheartoftheunhappylistenerlikethetouchoficetothehand.TherewasakindlinglightofhopeinMissBurton\'sface,andsomethinginhertonethatindicatedthecourageofanunfalteringtrustasshesangtheclosinglines:
\"I\'llsinguponahappiershore,Thywillbedone.\"
ButthewordsbroughtadeeperdespondencytoIdaMayhew.Inbitternesssheaskedherself,\"Whatchanceisthereformetoreach\'thathappiershore,\'withthetempteratmysideandeverythinginthepresentandpastcombiningtodragmedown?\"
\"There,thankheaven\'meetin\'sover,\'\"whisperedSibley,asMissBurtonrosefromthepiano.\"I\'msickofallthispioustwaddle,andwouldathousand-foldratherlistentothemusicofyourvoiceoutunderthetrees.\"
\"You\'thankheaven\'!\"sherepeatedwitharecklesslaugh.\"I\'minclinedtothink,Mr.Sibley,fromthenatureofyourwords,younamedthewronglocality.\"
Theansweringlookhegaveherindicatedthatshepuzzledhim.