ok round, but seeing no one, turned again to the
organ, and in a minute her beautiful voice rose in the triumphant
strains of the song of the redeemed. Major St. Clair folded his arms,
and stood up behind his pillar. He seemed strangely moved, and as the
last notes died away he hastily quitted the church.

CHAPTER XIII

'When We Two Met!'

Betty was so absorbed in the music that she forgot all about the major.

'When I grow up, do you think I shall be able to play and sing like you
do?' she asked, with a little sigh of happiness.

'I dare say you may, dear.'

'But shall I have an organ to play? In London you can't go into any
church and play, can you?'

'No; it is only because I know the clergyman here that he gives me
permission.'

'And why do you never come to church here on Sunday?'

'Because we have a little church nearer us; but it has not an organ,
and so I come over here.'

'Do you know what I do when you're singing? I shut my eyes and pretend
I'm in heaven. It's lovely! If you shut yours you could pretend too,
and I wish you could go on singing for ever and ever!'

Nesta laughed, and kissed the little eager, up-turned face. 'I should
get very tired and hungry, I'm afraid. I am not an angel, Betty; but
you're right, darling. I, too, get very near to heaven when I'm
singing;' and she added musingly,--

In heart and mind ascending,
My spirit follows Thee.'

When, a little later, Nesta came out of the church with Betty, the tall
figure of Major St. Clair came forward to meet them.

'Good-afternoon, Miss Fairfax.'

His tone was cold and grave; but Nesta started, and turned white to her
very lips; then with an effort she recovered her composure, and held
out her hand.

'It is a long time since we have met,' she said.

There was a pause, but Betty came to the rescue with the delightful
unconsciousness of childhood.

'Do you know my Miss Fairfax?' she asked the major. 'You never told me
you did. Didn't she sing beautifully? Did you like "Tribulation"? We
like it the best of all her songs, don't we, Prince?'

She stooped to caress her little dog; then, as he broke away from her,
she darted after him.

Major St. Clair stood still, and his eyes never moved from Nesta's face.

'Do we meet as strangers?' he asked.

'No,' she said, a little unsteadily, and her lips quivered in spite of
herself, as she strove in vain to meet his gaze calmly; 'as old
friends, I hope.'