ile, and then he sighed deeply.

The feeling of deep, unsatisfied longing died out of his heart and from
that moment a sense of great freedom took possession of him. He looked
over at his beloved Helene. She was still rhapsodising on the piano,
utterly unconscious of the great struggle going on in the heart of her
music master. What could he offer her? Should he ruin all her
prospects? Had he a home fit for her to come to?

These thoughts surged through his mind as he looked at her. His first
great impulse was to tell her who he was and take her to his heart, but
with a supreme effort he controlled himself. He had so often pictured
the scene of his first meeting with his child that it seemed almost as
if he had been through this crisis before, but he had never dreamed
that she would be occupying such a high station in life, never dreamed
that to make his relationship known would ruin her prospects, and
perhaps her happiness. This realisation gave him a perspective of the
situation and he resolved for the sake of her future not to betray
himself. He walked slowly to the piano, and stood behind her a few
moments, then suddenly he lost control of himself and took her hands in
his.

"What is it?" she said, in some surprise, but with no tinge of anger in
her voice.

"You slurred," he faltered, not daring to look her in the face, for
fear his great love would show itself.

"You mustn't slur--please," he murmured apologetically.

"Did I slur?" she asked. "Well, I assure you, it was unconscious. I
didn't mean to do it."

"You are very happy here?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, surprised at the irrelevancy of the question.

He was now stroking her hair with his gentle, loving hand.

"You have everything in the world, everything?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, scarcely conscious of his meaning.

"And you are happy?" he repeated.

"Why shouldn't I be?" she said. "I suppose I have everything to make
me."

She stopped playing. This seemed to bring Von Barwig to a sense of his
surroundings.

"Come," he said. "We must work! To the lesson! One, two, three; one,
two, three."

He could not resist the impulse. He leaned over and again grasped her
hands in his. She looked up at him, this time in utter surprise.

"You were slurring again, slurring again," he said, frightened at his
lack of self-control.

"Was I, indeed?" said Helene. "Well, you'll have to punish me severely
if this goes on."