"It's a pity your brother doesn't come up," said Mrs. Hawksley, who was
standing behind Nell, and could not see the white, strained face. "He'd
enjoy the sight, I'm sure. I'm half inclined to send a word to him."

Nell caught her arm. Dick must not come up here and recognize Drake,
must not see her white face and trembling lips. If possible, she must
leave Anglemere in the morning; must induce Dick to go before he could
learn that Drake and Lord Angleford were one and the same.

"My brother would not come," she said. "Please do not send for him.
He--the lights----"

Mrs. Hawksley nodded.

"As you think best, my dear," she said. "But it's a pity. Here's the
interval now. What is going on in the orchestra?"

Nell looked toward the band, which had ceased playing; but Falconer was
softly tuning his violin. About half the dancers had left the room, and
those that remained were pacing up and down, talking and laughing, or
seated in couples in the alcoves and recesses.

Falconer finished tuning, glanced toward Nell--the gallery was too dimly
lit for him to see the pallor of her face--then began to play a solo.

Coming after the dance music, the sonata he had chosen was like a breath
of pure, heather-scented air floating in upon the gas-laden atmosphere
of the heated room; and at the first strains of the delicious melody the
people below stopped talking, and turned their eyes up to the front of
the gallery, where the tall, thin form in its worn velvet jacket stood,
for that moment, at least, the supreme figure.

Nell, as she listened, felt as if a cool, pitying hand had fallen upon
her aching heart; as if a voice of thrilling sweetness were whispering
tender consolation. Never loud, but with an insistent force which held
the listeners in thrall, sometimes so low that it was but a murmur, the
exquisite music stole over the senses of all, awakening tender memories,
reviving scattered hopes, softening, for the short space it held its
sway, world-hardened hearts.

The tears gathered in Nell's eyes, bringing her infinite relief; but she
could see through her tears that the great hall was filling with the
hasty return of those who had been within hearing of the music, and when
it ceased there rose a burst of applause, led by the earl himself.

"How very beautiful!" exclaimed the duchess, who was on his arm. "The
man must be a genius. Where did you find him, Lord Angleford?"

Drake did not reply for a moment, as if he had