chances to be quite new, at
least her part of it," answered Mrs. Linwood; "but I have no intention
of suffering her to remain there too long; she has borne the discipline
admirably."

As I turned a grateful glance to Mrs. Linwood, my heart throbbing with
delight at the prospect of emancipation, I met the eyes, the earnest,
perusing eyes of her son. I drew back further into the shadow of the
curtain, but the risen moon was shining upon my face, and silvering the
lace drapery that floated round me. Edith whispered something to her
brother, glancing towards me her smiling eyes, then sweeping her fingers
lightly over the harp-strings, began one of the songs that Ernest loved.

Sweetly as she always sang, I had never heard her sing so sweetly
before. It seemed indeed "Joy's ecstatic trial," so airily her fingers
sparkled over the chords, so clearly and cheerily she warbled each
animated note.

"I know you love sad songs best, Ernest, but I cannot sing them
to-night," she said, pushing the instrument from her.

"There is a little German air, which I think I may recollect," said he,
drawing the harp towards him.

"You, Ernest!" cried Edith and his mother in the same breath, "you play
on the harp!"

He smiled at their astonishment.

"I took lessons while in Germany. A fellow-student taught me,--a
glorious musician, and a native of the land of music,--Italy. There, the
very atmosphere breathes of harmony."

The very first note he called forth, I felt a master's touch was on the
chords, and leaning forward I held my breath to listen. The strains rose
rich and murmuring like an ocean breeze, then died away soft as wave
falls on wave in the moonlight night. He sang a simple, pathetic air,
with such deep feeling, such tender, passionate emotion, that tears
involuntarily moistened my eyes. All the slumbering music of my being
responded. It was thus _I_ could sing,--_I_ could play,--I knew I could.
And when he rose and resumed his seat by his mother, I could scarcely
restrain myself from touching the same chords,--the chords still
quivering from his magic hand.

"O brother!" exclaimed Edith, "what a charming surprise! I never heard
any thing so thrillingly sweet! You do not know how happy you have made
me. One more,--only one more,--Ernest."

"You forget your brother is from a long and weary journey, Edith, and we
have many an evening before us, I trust, of domestic joy like this,"
said Mrs. Linwood, ringing for the night