"Not as you play. Oh, please don't go yet!" said Fidelia earnestly. "Sing something, Ella," said her cousin. "Sing this"--laying a song open before her. "No, Miss Marsh. I will turn the music. You must only enjoy it." And Fidelia did enjoy it, as she had seldom enjoyed music before; growing pale and red by turns, as the thrilling voice rose and fell. For the moment the enjoyment was perfect. When it ceased, Fidelia would have slipped quietly out of the room. Miss Kent rose. "You sing, I am sure, Miss Marsh?" "No," said Fidelia gravely; "I do not sing." "Fidelia!" exclaimed Nellie. "No," repeated Fidelia; "I don't sing. I have only just found it out." "And what is this Amos has been telling us about your starting the echoes among the hills on your way home to-night?" said Dr Everett, who had drawn near. "_I_ think you can sing," said Amos. "Oh, yes, I can sing to please Amos!" said Fidelia, trying to speak lightly, but troubled under the eyes of those who had gathered round the piano, and more troubled still by the rush of her own vexed thoughts. "Is it envy?" she was saying to herself. "Is it pride and jealousy and discontent? Am I going to disappoint Eunice, after all? Oh, I am not good!" She did not know who proposed it, or how it happened, but in a little Miss Kent seated herself at the piano again, and the young people gathered round her, "to sing something they all could sing,"--a much more enjoyable affair to most uneducated singers than just to sit and listen to fine music. Of course they began with "The Star-spangled Banner;" and if Fidelia's voice did not ring out quite as it had rung out to please the boys among the hills, it still caused the Boston cousins to exchange surprised glances, thus giving the watchful Nellie another moment of delight. They did not sing long, however; and when Miss Kent rose again, Fidelia moved away to the other end of the room, believing that the pleasure of the evening was over for her. But it was not. She found herself in a little listening with much interest to the minister and the judge as they discussed a question which had come up before the last ministerial association of the county, and thinking it would be something to tell Eunice about when she went home. In the midst of it a voice said,-- "Miss Fidelia, I have a message for you from your sister." "From Eunice?"--and she turned to see Dr Justin Everett standing beside her. "Yes. I went to Halsey with my brother this morning, and have only just returned. We called to see your sister on our way." "She is well?" "That is part of the message she sent to you. She says you are not to hurry home, as my brother seemed to think you meant to do. You are to stay and have a good time. She does not need you in the least. No; that is not part of her message. But she is going with Mrs Stone to pay a visit of a week over in Northwood, and you are to stay here till that is over. She will write fully to-morrow."