ho has heard you play, and who would think the world was
too beautiful, if she could hear you say to her just once, some
of the kind things you must speak every day to the persons who
know you. I do not expect very much--you must have a great many
friends, and you would not care for me--but the least little
look, if it were all my own, would make me so happy and so
proud I should not envy anybody in the world, unless it was
some of those dear friends who see you always.

"I do not come and hear you play often, for aunty thinks music
frivolous, but I am always hearing you no matter where I am,
and it makes me feel as if I were far away from everybody, in a
beautiful land all sunshine and flowers. But nurse says I must
not write so much or you will not read it, so I will stop here.
But if you _would_ come it would make some one happier than
even your beautiful music could do."

That was all; there was neither name nor date. A child's epistle,
written with a woman's circumspection. With mingled sensations of doubt
and curiosity I turned back to the old woman who stood awaiting me with
eager anxiety.

"Was this written by a child or woman?" I asked, meeting her eye with as
much sternness as I could assume.

"Don't ask me--don't ask me anything. I have promised to bring you if I
could, but I cannot answer any questions."

I stepped back with an incredulous laugh. Here was evidently an
adventure. "You will at least tell me where the young miss lives," said
I, "before I undertake to fulfil her request."

She shook her head. "I have a carriage at the door, sir," said she. "All
you have got to do is to get into it with me and we shall soon be at the
house."

I looked from her face to the letter in my hand, and knew not what to
think. The spirit of simplicity and ingenuousness that marked the latter
was scarcely in keeping with this air of mystery. The woman observing my
hesitation moved towards the door.

"Will you come, sir?" she inquired. "You will not regret it. Just a
moment's talk with a pretty young girl--surely--"

"Hush," said I, hearing a hasty step behind me. And sure enough just
then my intimate friend Selby came along and grasping me by the arm
began dragging me towards the door. "You are my property," said he.
"I've promised, on my word of honor as a gentleman and a musician, to
bring you to the Handel Club this afternoon. I was afraid