I did not feel much in the mood for it, but I thought it would take off
my thoughts from myself, so I began to play. And in the firelight,
with the flickering shadows over the room, I lost all sense of my
audience. I seemed to see the golden gates of the Beautiful City, and
Jim beckoning to both Roddy and myself. 'The Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes.' These words came to me with a fresh realization of their beauty.

When I stopped playing, Nelly was regarding me with round open eyes,
and Kenneth took me quite aback by saying, with cool deliberation,
'There are moments, Goody Two-Shoes, when you and your fiddle are
before my eyes, that I think I should like to marry you and take you
away with me somewhere where you should charm me with those strains
continually. Don't look so frightened. We understand each other. I
know you wouldn't dream of having me, so I am never going to ask you.
You have certainly a fit of inspiration on you to-night. I don't think
I have ever heard you play better.'

'Miss Thorn has tired herself I think,' said a voice near the door; and
looking round, I saw that Mr. Stanton had been an unseen listener.

I sat down in my chair by the fire. 'I am tired,' I said. 'I think I
shall go to bed, Nelly.'

Instantly Mr. Stanton came forward and gave me his arm. 'You are
trembling all over,' he said very gently; 'lean on me. I am afraid it
is your throat.'

I looked up at him. 'Yes,' I said. 'Will you ask Mrs. Forsyth to come
to me? I am so sorry to give her the anxiety, but I am afraid I am
going to be ill.'

There was a strange look in his eyes as his glance met mine--a look
that haunted me through hours of weariness and pain afterwards. It
seemed so full of tender concern and anxiety; but all he said was in a
low tone as we left the room together, 'The eternal God is thy refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.'

Nelly came with me to my room, and in a very few moments her mother
followed. I feared what Mrs. Forsyth might say, and began half
apologising for the trouble I might give her; but she cut me short, and
nothing could have been kinder or more restful than her words. She
told Nelly to leave the room, helped me to bed herself, saying, 'Don't
talk or worry yourself, child. I have sent for the doctor. It may be
a very slight attack, and