up what a splendid pair of eyes she has i and i never saw anything so soft and heavenly as the expression of her face felt irritated lord had not alluded even in the most remote manner to his visit colonel watched her varying expression intently lady s is a style of beauty i do not admire replied she quickly colonel laughed nay lady as you seem to me to be the very of good wives you are bound to extend to all things the sam e degree of admiration as your lord his approval of lady i understand is too evident therefore you ought really to take her under your patronage i am disposed to act with the g kindness towards lady � who a suitable sense of the deep obligations she is under to lord replied with dignity � you know what malicious people say lady � that she was disposed to return those obligations with greater warmth than the occasion said the colonel slowly lady rose hastily from her seat and took up a book of from the table let our conversation end colonel i have filled my promise and you as a man of honor are now bound to act up to yours said she herself but was saved the trouble of a reply by the presence of mrs st priest who keenly watched the of her guest amidst all her exertion to keep up the spirit of her concert she evidently thought for the present he had gone far enough in his the for in her sweetest tones she requested to honor the company by a display of her talents as a and lady immediately assented glad of any mode of escape from colonel s persecution and she was in the act of crossing the room to the piano when the door opened and mr tu was announced he looked amazed he perceived s beautiful face amid such a assemblage lady is it possible i see you here and alone i suppose you expect the earl when his duties at are over exclaimed he after he had exchanged � with his hostess � no i do not indeed replied calmly drawing off gloves � but i am also surprised to meet you here for i understood mr likewise dined at yes so i did but having heard your husband s splendid speech i soon got weary of the nonsense talked afterwards and strolled in here but what are you going to do lady sing replied herself at the piano and soon her notes soft clear and drew all round the instrument it was an art in which she especially and at the present moment her voice had more than its usual pathos and expression for her heart was full and she yielded willingly to its colonel l with both arms at the end of the piano turning over some loose pages of music but placed as to command a full view of her face loud and unanimous applause followed lady s performance and she was � l implored to sing again colonel taking up a piece of music then approached and in his most tones asked permission to accompany her it was a song they had often sung in concert and the of their fine voices never failed to admiration lady hesitated but the urgent of those around almost compelled her � acquiescence they sang fast and thick thoughts of by gone days came crowding on s fancy and when she arose from the piano it was with flushing cheek and a glitter in her eye colonel then led her to a chair at a little distance from the piano she sat down and again he stationed himself behind her while mrs st priest favored her guests with a brilliant on the harp few words were exchanged between them but still unlike his former manner there was a deep earnest tenderness and deference in his tones which again painfully awoke reminiscences past not that faltered one instant in the new born sentiment of passionate love which pervaded her heart for her husband but amid the and irritation of disappointed hope there was something soothing and grateful to her wounded self esteem in the homage even of colonel � lady will you favor us with this superb i am almost ashamed to ask you but one so rarely meets two people who sing like you and edward said mrs st priest rising after e had finished her and approaching with a piece of music in her hand it was the splendid in ii non t do not sing that lady said the clear significant voice of mr in low tones why not it is a great favorite and one i have often sung responded coldly possibly but take my advice lady and do not sing any more this evening but it appeared as if it were s unlucky destiny on this night to slight all prudent counsel she sat down before the piano struck the opening of the and soon her whole was absorbed in its melody meanwhile mrs st priest turned to mr who sat watching the of the company at large with his usual dry air we were so charmed mr to find your cousin s reported accident people do invent such horrid stories i i thought i never saw lady look better than she did this morning said she what accident mrs st priest i never heard of any accident replied mr fixing his eyes on the widow s face � really we were terrified yesterday by hearing that lady had fallen and severely injured her head i cannot imagine what tales the world will next i rejoined t priest her white polished shoulders mused mr what a splendid display of plants you have here mrs st priest i continued he after a silence of a few minutes do you think so they must seem very shabby after your show at i never 