as without a cloud, and the dawning mystery of moonlight began to
tremble already in the region of the eastern heaven. The sense of
peace and seclusion soothed all thought and feeling into a rapt,
unearthly repose; and the balmy quiet, that deepened ever with the
deepening light, seemed to hover over us with a gentler influence
still, when there stole upon it from the piano the heavenly tenderness
of the music of Mozart. It was an evening of sights and sounds never
to forget.

We all sat silent in the places we had chosen--Mrs. Vesey still
sleeping, Miss Fairlie still playing, Miss Halcombe still reading--till
the light failed us. By this time the moon had stolen round to the
terrace, and soft, mysterious rays of light were slanting already
across the lower end of the room. The change from the twilight
obscurity was so beautiful that we banished the lamps, by common
consent, when the servant brought them in, and kept the large room
unlighted, except by the glimmer of the two candles at the piano.

For half an hour more the music still went on. After that the beauty
of the moonlight view on the terrace tempted Miss Fairlie out to look
at it, and I followed her. When the candles at the piano had been
lighted Miss Halcombe had changed her place, so as to continue her
examination of the letters by their assistance. We left her, on a low
chair, at one side of the instrument, so absorbed over her reading that
she did not seem to notice when we moved.

We had been out on the terrace together, just in front of the glass
doors, hardly so long as five minutes, I should think; and Miss Fairlie
was, by my advice, just tying her white handkerchief over her head as a
precaution against the night air--when I heard Miss Halcombe's
voice--low, eager, and altered from its natural lively tone--pronounce
my name.

"Mr. Hartright," she said, "will you come here for a minute? I want to
speak to you."

I entered the room again immediately. The piano stood about half-way
down along the inner wall. On the side of the instrument farthest from
the terrace Miss Halcombe was sitting with the letters scattered on her
lap, and with one in her hand selected from them, and held close to the
candle. On the side nearest to the terrace there stood a low ottoman,
on which I took my place. In this position I was not far from the glass
doors, and I could see Miss Fairlie plainly, as she passed and repassed
the opening on to the terrace, walkin