e harmony I invited," she said, so soon as the
overwhelming sounds had ceased to fill the ship; "nor do I think it of a
quality to favour the slumbers of those who seek their rest."

"Fear nothing for them. The seaman sleeps with his ear near the port
whence the cannon bellows, and awakes at the call of the boatswain's
whistle. He is too deeply schooled in habit, to think he has heard more
than a note of the flute; stronger and fuller than common, if you will,
but still a sound that has no interest for him. Another tap would have
sounded the alarm of fire; but these three touches say no more than music.
It was the signal for the band. The night is still, and favourable for
their art, and we will listen to sweet sounds awhile."

His words were scarcely uttered before the low chords of wind instruments
were heard without, where the men had probably stationed themselves by
some previous order of their Captain. The Rover smiled, as if he exulted
in this prompt proof of the sort of despotic or rather magical power he
wielded; and, throwing his form on the divan, he sat listening to the
sounds which followed.

The strains which now rose upon the night, and which spread themselves
soft and melodiously abroad upon the water, would in truth have done
credit to far more regular artists. The air was wild and melancholy and
perhaps it was the more in accordance with the present humour of the man
for whose ear it was created. Then, losing the former character the whole
power of the music was concentrated in softer and still gentler sounds, as
if the genius who had given birth to the melody had been pouring out the
feelings of his soul in pathos. The temper of the Rover's mind answered to
the changing expression of the music; and, when the strains were sweetest
and most touching, he even bowed his head like one who wept.

Though secretly under the influence of the harmony themselves, Mrs Wyllys
and her pupil could but gaze on the singularly constituted being into
whose hands their evil fortune had seen fit to cast them. The former was
filled with admiration at the fearful contrariety of those passions which
could reveal themselves, in the same individual, under so very different
and so dangerous forms; while the latter, judging with the indulgence and
sympathy of her years, was willing to believe that a man whose emotions
could be thus easily and kindly excited was rather the victim of
circumstances than the creator of his own luck