as they walked along together, "that I
have grown quite used to the solitariness of this neighborhood? I don't
find it strange, or melancholy, or oppressive any longer. I suppose when
I get back to a crowded city, the roar of it will be absolutely
bewildering; indeed, I am looking forward with a good deal of interest
to seeing something of the world again at Kilfearn--which can't be a
very big place either."

"Oh, are you going to the opening of the Kilfearn Town Hall?" she asked.

"Yes," said he, with a little surprise, "I thought everybody was going.
Aren't you? I understood the whole world--of Ross-shire--was to be
there, and that I was to make a sudden plunge into a perfect whirlpool
of human life."

"It will amuse you," she said, with a quiet smile. "You will see all the
county families there, staring at one another's guests; and you will
hear a lot of songs, like 'My Pretty Jane' and 'Ever of Thee,' sung by
bashful young ladies. At the opening of the proceedings my brother Hugh
will make a speech; he is their chairman, and I know precisely what he
will say. Hugh always speaks to the point. It will be something like
this: 'Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to see you here to-night. We
still want L180. We mean to give two more concerts to clear the debt
right off. You must all come and bring your friends. I will not longer
stand in the way of the performers who have kindly volunteered their
services.'"

"And that is a most admirable speech," her companion exclaimed. "It says
everything that is wanted and nothing more; I call it a model speech!"

"Mr. Moore," she said, suddenly looking up, "are you going to sing at
the concert?"

"I believe so," he answered.

"What are you going to sing?"

"Oh, I don't know yet. Whatever I am asked for. Lady Adela is arranging
the programme." And then he added, rather breathlessly, "Is there
anything you would care to have me sing?"

"Well, to tell you the truth," said she, quite frankly, "I hardly
intended going. But if I thought there was a chance of hearing you sing
some such song as 'The Bonnie Earl o' Moray,' I would go."

"'The Bonnie Earl o' Moray?'" he said, eagerly. "The song that Miss
Lestrange sang the other night?"

"The song that Miss Lestrange made a fool of the other night," she said,
contemptuously. "But if _you_ were to sing it, you would make it very
fine and impressive. I should like to hear you sing that in a large
hall."

"Oh, but certainly I will