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touch。〃
〃Listening to her；〃 said the major； who had now recovered from his
annoyance at being interrupted； 〃one becomes unconscious of her
presence； for she /is the music itself/。 And that is rare。 It is but seldom
nowadays that we are allowed to forget the personality of the player。 And
yet her personality is an unusual one； having once seen her； it would not
be easy to forget her。 I should recognise her anywhere。〃
As he spoke； he glanced at the little tuner； and could not help admiring
her dignified composure under circumstances which might have been
distressing to any one； and when she rose with the others he followed her；
and said stiffly：
〃I regret that I was the indirect cause of putting you in an awkward
position。〃
〃It is really of no consequence；〃 she said； brightly。 〃If you think I was
impertinent； I ask your forgiveness。 I did not mean to be officious。 The
words were spoken before I was aware of them。〃
She passed into the salon； where she found a quiet corner for herself；
and read some of the newspapers。 No one took the slightest notice of her；
not a word was spoken to her； but when she relieved the company of her
presence her impertinence was commented on。
〃I am sorry that she heard what I said；〃 remarked Miss Blake； 〃but she
did not seem to mind。 These young women who go out into the world lose
the edge of their sensitiveness and femininity。 I have always observed
that。〃
〃How much they are spared then！〃 answered some one。
Meanwhile the little girl slept soundly。 She had merry dreams； and
finally woke up laughing。 She hurried over her breakfast； and then stood
ready to go for a butterfly hunt。 She looked thoroughly happy； and
evidently had found； and was holding tightly； the key to life's enjoyment。
Oswald Everard was waiting on the balcony； and he reminded her that
he intended to go with her。 〃Come along then；〃 she answered； 〃we must
not lose a moment。〃
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They caught butterflies； they picked flowers； they ran； they lingered
by the wayside； they sang； they climbed； and he marvelled at her easy
speed。 Nothing seemed to tire her； and everything seemed to delight her
the flowers； the birds； the clouds； the grasses； and the fragrance of the pine
woods。
〃Is it not good to live？〃 she cried。 〃Is it not splendid to take in the
scented air？ Draw in as many long breaths as you can。 Isn't it good？ Don't
you feel now as though you were ready to move mountains？ I do。 What a
dear old nurse Nature is！ How she pets us； and gives us the best of her
treasures！〃
Her happiness invaded Oswald Everard's soul； and he felt like a
school…boy once more； rejoicing in a fine day and his liberty； with nothing
to spoil the freshness of the air； and nothing to threaten the freedom of the
moment。
〃Is it not good to live？〃 he cried。 〃Yes； indeed it is； if we know how to
enjoy。〃
They had come upon some haymakers； and the little girl hastened up
to help them； laughing and talking to the women； and helping them to pile
up the hay on the shoulders of a broad…backed man； who then conveyed
his burden to a pear…shaped stack。 Oswald Everard watched his companion
for a moment； and then； quite forgetting his dignity as an amateur tenor
singer； he too lent his aid； and did not leave off until his companion sank
exhausted on the ground。
〃Oh；〃 she laughed； 〃what delightful work for a very short time！ Come
along； let us go into that brown chatlet yonder and ask for some milk。 I am
simply parched with thirst。 Thank you； but I prefer to carry my own
flowers。〃
〃What an independent little lady you are！〃 he said。
〃It is quite necessary in our profession； I can assure you；〃 she said；
with a tone of mischief in her voice。 〃That reminds me that my profession
is evidently not looked upon with any favour by the visitors at the hotel。 I
am heartbroken to think that I have not won the esteem of that lady in the
billycock hat。 What will she say to you for coming out with me？ And what
will she say of me for allowing you to come？ I wonder whether she will
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say； 'How unfeminine！' I wish I could hear her！〃
〃I don't suppose you care；〃 he said。 〃You seem to be a wild little bird。〃
〃I don't care what a person of that description says；〃 replied his
companion。
〃What on earth made you contradict the major at dinner last night？〃 he
asked。 〃I was not at the table； but some one told me of the incident； and I
felt very sorry about it。 What could you know of Miss Thyra Flowerdew？〃
〃Well； considering that she is in my profession； of course I know
something about her；〃 said the little girl。
〃Confound it all！〃 he said； rather rudely。 〃Surely there is some
difference between the bellows…blower and the organist。〃
〃Absolutely none；〃 she answered； 〃merely a variation of the original
theme！〃
As she spoke she knocked at the door of the chalet； and asked the old
dame to give them some milk。 They sat in the /Stube/； and the little girl
looked about； and admired the spinning…wheel and the quaint chairs and
the queer old jugs and the pictures on the walls。
〃Ah； but you shall see the other room；〃 the old peasant woman said；
and she led them into a small apartment which was evidently intended for
a study。 It bore evidences of unusual taste and care； and one could see that
some loving hand had been trying to make it a real sanctum of refinement。
There was even a small piano。 A carved book… rack was fastened to the
wall。
The old dame did not speak at first； she gave her guests time to
recover from the astonishment which she felt they must be experiencing；
then she pointed proudly to the piano。
〃I bought that for my daughters；〃 she said； with a strange mixture of
sadness and triumph。 〃I wanted to keep them at home with me； and I saved
and saved； and got enough money to buy the piano。 They had always
wanted to have one； and I thought they would then stay with me。 They
liked music and books； and I knew they would be glad to have a room of
their own where they might read and play and study； and so I gave them
th