s that Mr. Hayne was playing. The
firelight was flickering on her shining hair; one slender white hand was
toying with the locket that hung at her throat, the other gently tapping
on the arm of the chair in unison with the music. And Mr. Hayne, seated
in the shadow, bent slightly over the key-board, absorbed in his
pleasant task, and playing as though all his soul were thrilling in his
finger-tips. Mrs. Waldron stood in silence at the door-way, watching the
unconscious pair with an odd yet comforted expression in her eyes. At
last, in one long, sweet, sighing chord, the melody softly died away,
and Mr. Hayne slowly turned and looked upon the girl. She seemed to have
wandered off into dream-land. For a moment there was no sound; then,
with a little shivering sigh, she roused herself.

"It is simply exquisite," she said. "You have given me such a treat!"

"I'm glad. I owe you a great deal more pleasure, Miss Travers."

Mrs. Waldron hereat elevated her eyebrows. She would have slipped away
if she could, but she was a woman of substance, and as solid in flesh as
she was warm of heart. She did the only thing left to her,--came
cordially forward to welcome her two visitors and express her delight
that Miss Travers could have an opportunity of hearing Mr. Hayne play.
She soon succeeded in starting him again, and shortly thereafter managed
to slip out unnoticed. When he turned around a few minutes afterwards,
she had vanished.

"Why, I had no idea she was gone!" exclaimed Miss Travers; and then the
color mounted to her brow. He must think her extremely absorbed in his
playing; and so indeed she was.

"You are very fond of music, I see," he said, at a venture.

"Yes, very; but I play very little and very badly. Pardon me, Mr. Hayne,
but you have played many years, have you not?"

"Not so very many; but--there have been many in which I had little else
to do but practise."

She reddened again. It was so unlike him, she thought, to refer to that
matter in speaking to her. He seemed to read her:

"I speak of it only that I may say to you again what I began just before
Mrs. Waldron came. You gave me no opportunity to thank you the other
night, and I may not have another. You do not know what an event in my
life that meeting with you was; and you cannot know how I have gone over
your words again and again. Forgive me the embarrassment I see I cause
you, Miss Travers. We are so unlikely to meet at all that you can afford
to i