s, hoping that another voice would swell
the general request, but the lips she loved best were mute; and,
suddenly tossing the paper bags from her lap, she rose and moved
proudly to the piano.

"Miss Manton, will you or Miss Dexter be so kind as to play my
accompaniment for me? I am neither Liszt, nor Thalberg, and the vocal
gymnastics are all that I can venture to undertake."

Muriel promptly resumed her seat before the instrument, and played the
symphony of an aria from "Favorite," which Salome placed on the
piano-board. Barilli had assured her that she rendered this fiery
burst of rage and hatred as well as he had ever heard it; and, folding
her fingers tightly around each other she drew herself up to her full
height, and sang it.

Mr. Granville leaned against the piano, and Dr. Grey was standing in
the recess of the window when the song began, but ere long he moved
forward unconsciously and paused, with his hand on his ward's shoulder
and his eyes riveted in astonishment on Salome's countenance. She knew
that the approbation and delight of this small audience was worth all
the _encore_ shouts of the millions who might possibly applaud her in
future years; and if ever a woman's soul poured itself out through her
lips, all that was surging in Salome's heart became visible to the man
who listened as if spell-bound.

Miss Jane grasped her crutches, and rose, leaning upon them, while a
look of mingled joy and wonder made her sallow face eloquent; and Miss
Dexter dropped her ivory needle, and gazed in amazement at the singer.
Muriel forgot her chords,--turned partially around, and watched in
breathless surprise the marvelous execution of several difficult
passages, where the rich voice seemed to linger while improvising
sparkling turns and trills that were strangely intricate, and
indescribably sweet.

As she approached the close of her song, Salome became temporarily
oblivious of pride, wounded vanity, and murdered hopes,--forgot all
but the man at her side, for whose commendation she had toiled so
patiently, and turning her flushed, radiant face, toward him, her
magnificent eyes aflame with triumph looked appealingly up at his, and
her hands were extended till they rested on his arm.

So the song ended, and for a moment the parlor was still as a tomb.
Dr. Grey silently enclosed the girl's two hands in his, and, for the
first time since she had known him, Salome saw tears swimming in his
grave, beautiful eyes, an