Then the two played furiously together. The piano was a generation younger than the Lister piano, but it had long since passed its first youth. As a demonstration of digital agility and of power to make a loud noise, the performance was a success; otherwise it was worse than a failure. Cora glanced out of the corner of her eye at Richard. Upon his face was an expression of excitement. It frightened her in a vague way, and she was thankful when Thomasina called a gentle "Quietly, children!" Utterly bent toward Thomasina. "Have you lived long in Waltonville, Miss Davis?" "All my life." Thomasina answered without that pleasant enthusiasm inciting to further talk which was one of her chief charms. She liked this stranger less and less. "That is about forty-five years." Utterly was about to express a polite doubt of Thomasina's having lived anywhere that long, but thought better of it. "It is a very interesting town, isn't it?" "Very," answered Thomasina shortly. "One feels that the lives spent here must be happy." "Not necessarily. The average of happiness is probably no higher here than elsewhere. People carry the material of happiness in their hearts." Utterly listened a little impatiently. It was a period when abstract opinions fell oftener from the lips of men than of women. "Did you ever know Basil Everman?" he asked. Thomasina laid her crimson fan across her knees. The children came suddenly to a climax and somewhat boisterously, went to bring in the refreshments provided by Mrs. Scott, the sound of voices from the porch had sunk to a gentle murmur. Into Thomasina's face came a bewildered expression; she looked at the same time incredulous, and intensely desirous of hearing more. "Did I know Basil Everman?" She repeated the question as though she were trying to make herself believe that it had really been uttered. "Yes," said Utterly, "Basil Everman." "I knew him all his life." "Will you tell me about him?" "Tell you what about him?" "Tell me what he looked like, how he spoke and walked--all your impressions of him." Thomasina lifted her fan and held it spread out against her breast as though it were a shield. She could not quite trust the stranger, though he had uttered a magic name. "What do _you_ know about him?" "He published some anonymous work in 'Willard's Magazine' and we are anxious to learn everything we can about his history."