eeze was passing ... coming ... _a little
mischievous breeze_....

For one long moment Valerie's heart stood still.

Then she threw back her head and began to sing.

"_Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie...._"

Anthony stared at her open-mouthed. Her throat felt as though it had
steel bands about it. She just smiled and sang on.

"_There I couch when owls do cry,
When owls do cry,
When owls do cry...._"

The leaves of the lime-trees beyond the green box wall were
trembling--she could see them--beginning to bob up and down. The
boughs themselves were beginning to sway elastically. Valerie sang
like a book.

"_On a bat's back do I fly,
After sunset, merrily, merrily,
After sunset merrily...._"

The lime-trees had stopped trembling. The breeze had passed.... An
exultant note swept into the melody.

"_Merrily, merrily, shall I live now,
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough--
Merrily, merrily, shall I live now,
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough--
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough._"

With a fine, happy smile, Lyveden heard the song out.

Then he stepped to my lady and caught her two hands.

"Exquisite," he said, glowing. "Exquisite, Valerie. I never knew you
had such a lovely voice."

As he spoke, the girl's knees sagged, and he was just in time to catch
her before she fell....

Her collapse was momentary. She was not, I suppose, unconscious for
more than five seconds. It was, indeed, at her bidding that Anthony
set her down upon a low stone seat.

It was natural that he should be greatly concerned.

"Oh, my sweet, it was my fault. I frightened you. I know I did. Lean
your head back. That's right. I was all worked up about that rotten
dream. I'll never mention it again. I'm so very sorry, dear. I
wouldn't have upset you for anything. And you sang so beautifully....
Why did you sing, Valerie?"

"I--I don't know. I heard a bee humming, and that made me think of the
song. It was very silly."

"It was very sweet, lass. And I just loved it. And, oh, my lady,
please never think of our misunderstanding again. I felt I wanted just
to know, but that was all. D'you feel better now?" Valerie nodded.
"Are you sure?"

"Quite."

"Shall I get you some water?"

"No, thanks, lad. I'm all right now."

Kneeling on one knee beside her, Anthony patted her hand.

"I'm so thankful.... I c