lage was in sight, the gentle moon had begun her walk
through "golden gates," throwing across the water a brilliant column of
light, sparkling and dancing in glorious beauty on the gentle ripples of
the lake.

"Now is the time for music," said Mr. Harrington; "for truly

'Music sounds the sweetest
Over the rippling waves.'"

But for once the Misses Fairland were obliged to relinquish the
opportunity of charming by their united voices; the only music in which
they were practised, and which they thought worth listening to, being of
the flourishing, trilling, running, quavering, shrieking kind; and this
they could not attempt without their "notes" and the "instrument." Mr.
Harrington then proposed to Agnes to sing some sweet old-fashioned airs;
and laying down his oars, he took a seat beside her, and joined his rich
tenor to the strangely-melodious tones of her voice; and as the harmony
floated over the water, it seemed almost like the music of heaven. This
was a state of things by no means agreeable to the two neglected ladies
in the other end of the boat, and Miss Calista began to be afraid of the
night air, and Miss Evelina was taken with a hacking cough; so that Mr.
Harrington was obliged to resume his oars, and row them rapidly to the
village.

Mr. Harrington consented to moor his boat, and accompany the ladies up
to the house to tea. Anxious to try the effect of their own
accomplishments, the Misses Fairland, soon after tea, led the
conversation to the subject of music, and were easily persuaded to
attempt, with the "notes" and "instrument," some of their favorite
songs. And now began a flourishing and screaming unparalleled in the
annals of music. Miss Calista screamed, "I love only thee!" and then
Miss Evelina shrieked, "I love only thee!" and then Miss Calista trilled
it--and Miss Evelina howled it--and Miss Calista quavered it--and Miss
Evelina ran it--and then one of them started on it, and the other ran
and caught up with her--and then one burred for some time on
thee-e-e-e-e, while the other ran up and down, still asserting as
rapidly as possible, and insisting boldly, and stoutly asseverating, "I
love only thee!"--and then, with a combined shriek, they made known the
fact once more and finally, and then the ears of their hearers were
allowed to rest.

"Now, girls, if you have done with that clatter," said Mr. Fairland, "I
want Agnes to sing for _me_ one of those sweet old Scotch songs; it will
be