n yer mouth and gave it
tongue. That's all right. Everything has a beginning. Sure, later on,
we'll get the time and tune, maybe a little expression."

Whether the system had any merit in it, I cannot answer. Certain it was
that as often as not it achieved success. Gradually--say, by the end
of twelve eighteen-penny lessons--out of storm and chaos "Tom Bowling"
would emerge, recognisable for all men to hear. Had the pupil any voice
to start with, the O'Kelly improved it; had he none, the O'Kelly would
help him to disguise the fact.

"Take it easy, now; take it easy," the O'Kelly would counsel. "Sure,
it's a delicate organ, yer voice. Don't ye strain it now. Ye're at yer
best when ye're just low and sweet."

So also with the blushing pianiste. At the end of a month a tune was
distinctly discernible; she could hear it herself, and was happy. His
repute spread.

Twice already had he eloped with the Signora (and twice again was he
to repeat the operation, before I finally lost sight of him: to break
oneself of habit is always difficult) and once by well-meaning friends
had he been induced to return to home, if not to beauty. His wife, who
was considerably older than himself, possessed, so he would inform
me with tears in his eyes, every moral excellence that should attract
mankind. Upon her goodness and virtue, her piety and conscientiousness
he would descant to me by the half hour. His sincerity it was impossible
to question. It was beyond doubt that he respected her, admired her,
honoured her. She was a saint, an angel--a wretch, a villain such as he,
was not fit to breathe the same pure air. To do him justice, it must
be admitted he showed no particular desire to do so. As an aunt or
grandmother, I believe he would have suffered her gladly. He had nothing
to say against her, except that he found himself unable to live with
her.

That she must have been a lady of exceptional merit one felt convinced.
The Signora, who had met her only once, and then under somewhat trying
conditions, spoke her praises with equal enthusiasm. Had she, the
Signora, enjoyed the advantage of meeting such a model earlier, she,
the Signora, might have been a better woman. It seemed a pity the
introduction could not have taken place sooner and under different
circumstances. Could they both have adopted her as a sort of mutual
mother-in-law, it would have given them, I am positive, the greatest
satisfaction. On her occasional visits they would