Lady Lanswell saw it all with well-pleased eyes, but said nothing; she was biding her time. One evening they met at Mrs. Chester's. There was neither ball nor party, but a quiet at home; and their friendship made greater strides than it hitherto had done. Some one asked Lady Erskine to sing. Lord Chandos looked at her. "Do you sing?" he asked. And she answered with a quiet smile: "Yes, it is one of the few things I do well enough to content myself. I have a good voice and I sing well." "Are you what people call fond of music?" he asked. And she answered: "Yes, I often put my own thoughts to music, and if I meet any words that seem to me very good or very sweet I never rest until I have found a melody that fits them. I came across some the other day. Shall I sing them to you?" There was a slight commotion in the room when people saw the beautiful English girl led to the piano. She turned with a smile to Lord Chandos. "My song is English," she said, "and will not be understood by every one." "I shall understand it," he said; "you must sing it to me." When he heard the words he understood the blush that covered her face. "I should change my song," she said, "if another came into my mind. These words are by a poetess I read and admire much. It is called 'Somewhere or Other.'" She sung in a sweet, pure voice; there was neither fire, power, nor passion in it; but the words were clear and distinct. "'Somewhere or other there must surely be The face not seen, the voice not heard, The heart that never yet--never yet--ah, me, Made answer to my word. "'Somewhere or other, may be near or far, Past land and sea, clear out of sight, Beyond the wandering moon, the star, That tracks her night by night. "'Somewhere or other, may be far or near, With just a wall, a hedge between, With just the last leaves of the dying year Fallen on a turf so green.'" He stood by her side while she sung, his eyes fixed on her face, thinking how pure and fair she was. When the sweet strain of music ended, he said: "Somewhere or other--you will find it soon, Lady Marion." "Find what?" she asked. "'The heart that has never yet answered a word,'" he replied, quoting the words of her song. "People do often meet their fate without knowing it." When he saw the fair face grow crimson he knew at once that she thought she was speaking of himself and her. After that there seemed to be a kind of understanding between them. When others were speaking he would quote the words: "Somewhere or other," and then Lady Marion would blush until her face burned. So a kind of secret understanding grew between them without either of them quite understanding how it was. Lady Lanswell was quite happy; the bait was taking; there was no need for her to interfere, all was going well.