"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.