s so engrossed in
playing that she did not hear him enter. On seeing this, he proposed to
himself the schoolboy pleasure of creeping up behind her and giving her
a well-deserved fright. He did so, with such effect that, had he not
caught it, her violin would have fallen to the floor.

He took both her wrists in his, held them firm, and, from his superior
height--he was head and shoulders taller than Ephie--looked down on the
miscreant. He recognised her now as a pretty little American whom he
had noticed from time to time about the building; but--but ... well,
that she was as astoundingly pretty as this, he had had no notion. His
eyes strayed over her face, picking out all its beauties, and he felt
himself growing as soft as butter. Besides, she had crimsoned down to
her bare, dimpled neck; her head drooped; her long lashes covered her
eyes, and a tremulous smile touched the corners of her mouth, which
seemed uncertain whether to laugh or to cry--the short, upper-lip
trembled. He felt from her wrists, and saw from the uneasy movement of
her breast, how wildly her heart was beating--it was as if one held a
bird in one's hand. His ferocity died away; none of the hard words he
had had ready crossed his lips; all he said, and in his gentlest voice,
was: "Have I frightened you?" He was desperately curious to know the
colour of her eyes, and, as she neither answered him nor looked up, but
only grew more and more confused, he let one of her hands fall, and
taking her by the chin, turned her face up to his. She was forced to
look at him for a moment. Upon which, he stooped and kissed her on the
mouth, three times, with a pause between each kiss. Then, at a noise in
the corridor, he swung hastily from the room, and was just in time to
avoid the master, against whom he brushed up in going out of the door.

Herr Becker looked suspiciously at his favourite pupil's tell-tale face
and air of extreme confusion; and, throughout the lesson, his manner to
her was so cold and short that Ephie played worse than ever before.
After sticking fast in the middle of a passage, she stopped altogether,
and begged to be allowed to go home. When she had gone, and some one
else was playing, Herr Becker stood at the window and shook his head:
round this innocent baby face he had woven several pretty fancies.

Meanwhile Ephie flew rather than walked home, and having reached her
room unseen, flung herself on the bed, and buried her burning cheeks in
t