"Did you have a nice day? And did your brother find you?"

"Yes, I enjoyed it very much. And--we walked back together. He leaves on
Wednesday night."

"And is very sorry to go. He is so interested in you. I wish he could
remain longer, but he has the true sailor heart."

Lilian felt suddenly ashamed of her anger. Of course the whole family
must look at it from that point of view, which was not hers. And having
a brother was such a new thing to her. She had not been thrown much with
boys. Her books had been her dearest companions.

They all went to the drawing room afterward and had a pleasant talk
about the day and its duties. It softened Lilian's heart strangely.
After that some almost divine music, it seemed to her, and her thoughts
were lifted above distracting reflections.

The girls sang also. Several of them had very good voices but the best
singers were away. Lilian was not afraid tonight, but let her voice
swell out as she had in church this morning, and it surprised even
herself.

When they said good-night to each other Mr. Barrington led her to her
own pretty sitting room.

"I have hardly seen you today," she began, "and though your change will
not separate us altogether and is so immeasurably to your advantage, I
want you to know that I had some plans for your future revolving in my
mind. I meant to have matters on a different basis when we began the new
term. I did not think Mrs. Boyd would live through the winter, and as
you know, I promised to care for you. You will make a fine linguist, and
that is quite a gift for a woman. Then I have been interested in your
voice. You sang with much power and beauty tonight. It is not the
ordinary girlish voice."

"Miss Trenham said it was a contralto. I don't know the difference
between that and an alto. Of course, I sang in school at Laconia, and
took quite a part in the closing exercises. But no one seemed to
think--and I couldn't manage it always--" pausing lest she might say too
much.

"It wants cultivation, and I believe has some fine probabilities. I have
spoken to Mr. Reinhart about giving you private lessons in the new
term."

"Oh, how good you are! I could almost wish----" and she clasped the hand
nearest her.

"No, don't wish anything beyond what has happened. In spite of all the
love and tenderness lavished upon Mrs. Crawford, it was a continual
regret that she should have taken you on that ill-fated journey.
Charming as Zaidee is, she was