"Nonsense! Going into the army means, for Roland, going into every possible temptation and expense--that would not do. But he ought to be away from this little town. He will be making mischief if he cannot find it ready-made." "I am very uneasy about that girl from the fishing village, the girl whom I used to have with me a great deal." "Denas--the girl with the wonderful voice?" "Yes. Did you think her voice wonderful?" "Perhaps I should say haunting voice. She had certainly some unusual gift. I do not pretend to be able to define it. But I remember every line of the first measure I heard her sing. Many a time since I have thought my soul was singing it for its own pleasure, without caring whether I liked it or not; for when mentally reckoning up a transaction I have heard quite distinctly the rhythmical rolling cadence, like sea wave, to which the words were set. I hear it now." "Upon my word, Robert, you are very complimentary to Denas. I shall be jealous, my dear." "Not complimentary to Denas at all. I hardly remember what the girl looked like. And it is not worth while being jealous of a voice, for I can assure you, Elizabeth, a haunting song is a most unwelcome visitor when your brain is full of figures. And somehow it generally managed to come at a time when the bank and the street were both in a tumult with the sound of men's voices, the roll of wagons, and the tramp of horses' feet." "A song of the sea in the roar of the city! How strange! I am curious to hear it: I have forgotten most of the songs Denas sang." "The roar of the city appeared to provoke it. When it was loudest I usually heard most clearly the sweet thrilling echo, asking "'What is the tale of the sea, mother? What is the tale of the wide, wide sea?' 'Merry and sad are the tales, my darling, Merry and sad as tales may be. Those ships that sail in the happy mornings, Full of the lives and souls of men, Some will never come back, my darling; Some will never come back again!'" And as Elizabeth listened to her husband half singing the charmful words, she took a sudden dislike to Denas. But she said: "The song is a lovely song, and I must send for Denas to sing it again for us." In her heart she resolved never to send for Denas; "though if she does come"--and at this point Elizabeth held herself in pause for a minute ere she decided resolutely--"if she does come I will do what is right. I will be kind to her. She cannot help her witching voice--only--only I must step between her and Roland--that is for the good of both;" and she fell asleep, planning for this emergency. CHAPTER VI. ELIZABETH AND DENAS. "There is no hate in a woman which is not born of love." "Ever note, Lucilius, When love begins to slacken and decay, It uses an enforced ceremony: There are no tricks in plain and simple faith." --JULIUS CAESAR.