"I was coming for you," I cried; for such was, in fact, the case. But she noticed not my reply, and sped fleetly beneath the now weeping trees. I stood still, the rain streaming upon my head, and the dim thunder every now and then bursting and dying mournfully, yet in the distance, when I heard them both behind me. How astonished was I! I turned and joined them. They were talking very fast,--the strange girl having her very eyes fixed on the threatening sky, at which she laughed. He was not smiling, but seemed borne along by some impulse he could not resist, and was even unconscious of; he held the umbrella above them both, and she cried to me to come also beneath the canopy. We had only one clap as we crossed the lawn,--now reeking and deserted; but a whole levee was in the refreshment pavilion waiting for the monarch,--so many professors robed, so many Cecilians with their badges, that I was ready to shrink into a nonentity, instead of feeling myself by my late privilege superior to all. Every person appeared to turn as we made our way. But for all the clamor I heard him whisper, "You have done with me what no one ever did yet; and oh! I do thank you for being so kind to the foolish child. But come with me, that I may thank you elsewhere." "I would rather stay, sir. Here is my place, and I went out of my place to do you that little service of which it is out of the question to speak." "You must not be proud. Is it too proud to be thanked, then?" With the gentlest grace, he held out to her the single jasmine blossom. "See, no tear has dropped upon it. Will you take its last sigh?" She drew it down into her hand, and, almost as airily as he moved, glided in among the crowd, which soon divided us from her. Seraphael himself sighed so very softly that none could have _heard_ it; but I saw it part his lips and heave his breast. "She does not care for me, you see," he said, in a sweet, half pettish manner, as we left the pavilion. "Oh! sir, because she does not come with you? That is the very reason, because she cares so much." "How do you make that out?" "I remember the day I brought you that water, sir, how I was afraid to stay, although I would have given everything to stay and look at your face; and I ran away so fast because of that." "Oh, Carlomein, hush! or you must make me vain. I wonder very much why you do like me; but, pray, let it be so." "Like you!" I exclaimed, as we moved along the corridor, "you are _all_ music,--you must be; for I knew it before I had heard you play." "They do say so. I wonder whether it is true," said he, laughing a bright, sudden laugh, as brightly sounding as his smile was bright to gaze on. "We shall all know some time, I suppose. Now, Carlomein, what am I to say to this master of yours about you? For here we are at the door, and there is he inside." "Pray, sir, say what you like, and nothing if you like, for I don't care whether he storms or not."