I was not glad to feel the intermitting tenor supplant that soprano. Truly, it seemed that the higher Clara sang, the nearer she got to heaven. The company applauded this quartet, mere thready tissue of sweet sounds as it was--Rossini's--more than even Santonio's violin; but twenty years ago there had been no universal deluge of education, as I have lived to see since, and, at least in England in the midland counties, people were few who could make out the signs of musical genius so as to read them as they ran. Perhaps it was better that the musician then only sought for sympathy among his own kind. I knew Mirandos, and his fantasia came next, and hastily retreated, pulling Miss Benette by her dress to bring her away too; for I had a horror of his spreading hands. Santonio, impelled I daresay by the small curiosity which characterizes great minds in the majority of instances, came on the contrary forwards, and stood in the doorway to watch Mirandos take his seat. I could see the sneer settle upon his lips, subtle as that was; and I should have liked to stand and watch him, for I am fond of watching the countenances of artists in their medium moments, when I saw that Miss Benette had stolen to the fire, and was leaning against the mantelshelf her infantine forehead. Her attraction was strongest; I joined her. "Now," said I, "if it were not for Santonio, would you not find this evening very dull?" "It is not an evening at all, Master Auchester, it is a candle-light day; and so far from finding it dull, I find it a great deal too bright. I could listen forever to Mr. Davy's voice." "What can it be that makes his voice so sweet, when it is such a deep voice?" "I know it is because he has never sung in theatres. It does make a deep voice rough to sing in theatres, unless a man does not begin to sing so for a long, very long time." "Miss Benette, is that the reason you do not mean to sing in theatres?" "No; but it is the reason I sing so much in my little room." "Mr. Davy says you don't mean to act." "No more I do mean, but perhaps it will come upon me, and Thoné says, 'Child, you must.'" "She thinks you have a special gift, then?" "Who said to you about the special gift, Master Auchester? Do you ever forget anything you hear?" "Never! I am like Mr. Santonio. But Mr. Davy told me the night I asked him your name." "Oh, yes, I told him I had not a special gift. I thought the words so put together would please him, and I like to please him, he is good. I do not think it is a special gift, you know, Master Auchester, to act." "What is it then, Miss Benette?" "An inspiration." "Mr. Davy called the conducting at the festival inspiration." "Oh, yes; but all great composers are inspired." "Do you consider our conductor was a great composer?" "I daresay; but you must not ask me, I am not wise. Thoné is very wise, and she said to me the other day, after you were gone, 'He is one of us.'" "But, Miss Benette, she is a gypsy, and I am not."