sort of voice Baroni condescended to train, what
chance had she? And the young man's singing seemed so finished, the
fervour of his passion was so vehemently rendered, that she humbly
wondered that there still remained anything for him to learn. It was
almost like listening to a professional.

Quite suddenly Baroni dropped his hands from the piano and surveyed the
singer with such an eloquent mixture of disgust and bitter contempt in
his extraordinarily expressive eyes that Diana positively jumped.

"Ach! So that is your idea of a humble suitor, is it?" he said, and
though he never raised his voice above the rather husky, whispering tones
that seemed habitual to him, it cut like a lash. Later, Diana was to
learn that Baroni's most scathing criticisms and most furious reproofs
were always delivered in a low, half-whispering tone that fairly seared
the victim. "That is your idea, then--to shout, and yell, and bellow
your love like a caged bull? When will you learn that music is not
noise, and that love--love"--and the odd, husky voice thrilled suddenly
to a note as soft and tender as the cooing of a wood-pigeon--"can be
expressed _piano_--ah, but _pianissimo_--as well as by blowing great
blasts of sound from those leathern bellows which you call your lungs?"

The too-forceful baritone stood abashed, shifting uneasily from one foot
to the other. With a swift motion Baroni swept up the music from the
piano and shovelled it pell-mell into the young man's arms.

"Oh, go away, go away!" he said impatiently. "You are a voice--just a
voice--and nothing more. You will _nevaire_ be an artist!" And he
turned his back on him.

Very dejectedly the young man made his way towards the door, whilst
Diana, overcome with sympathy and horror at his abrupt dismissal, could
hardly refrain from rushing forward to intercede for him.

And then, to her intense amazement, Baroni whisked suddenly round, and
following the young man to the door, laid his hand on his shoulder.

"_Au revoir, mon brave_," he said, with the utmost bonhomie. "Bring the
song next time and we will go through it again. But do not be
discouraged--no, for there is no need. It will come--it will come. But
remember, _piano--piano--pianissimo_!"

And with a reassuring pat on the shoulder he pushed the young man
affectionately through the doorway and closed the door behind him.

So he had not been dismissed in disgrace after all! Diana breathed a
sigh of re