It was a wild song, with a monotonous refrain, and the voice of the girl sounded wild, and sweet, and deep, the whole performance did not resemble anything that he had ever heard. At first he thought of the recurring refrains in games, and then he thought of Moody and Sankey’s hymns, and then he was carried quite beyond himself, and could no longer attempt to understand. The servant had paused with her hand upon the door, as if uncertain whether to proceed or not. ‘Whither upon thy way so fast, (_Christabel, Christabel_) With morn scarce reddened, or darkness past?’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘I am called to find a bridal bower, (_Christabel, Christabel_) Where I may be free from hatred’s power,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘And where wilt find that bridal bower? (_Christabel, Christabel_) Ah! where wilt find that bridal bower?’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘If you please, miss, there’s a young man as wants to speak to you.’ ‘A young man!’ cried the deep voice, ‘oh! let him come in, I shall have done my song directly.’ And the song broke forth again. ‘I am called to the river deep and wide, (_Christabel, Christabel_) Where I and my love may rest, side by side,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘If thou so black a weird must dree, (_Christabel, Christabel_) A curse is on thy love and thee,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). Nat stood at the door, not daring to go farther, and she stopped for a moment to glance round at him. It was but for a moment, and again the song vibrated, more wild and mournful still. ‘The curse be on them who thus have blest, (_Christabel, Christabel_) Thy love shall find no earthly rest,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘Yet cold the river, and dark the night, (_Christabel, Christabel_) And I fain would flee towards the light,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘My heart is cold, and my brain on fire, (_Christabel, Christabel_) They are cold and burned with vain desire,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). She looked round at him as he stood entranced, and laughed; and then, turning to the piano, poured out the notes again, with the fulness and passion of one who is drawing to a close. The boy stood still, he could scarcely breathe or see, the whole air seemed to be full, to vibrate with the notes she sang. ‘Ah! if one ray could shine again, (_Christabel, Christabel_) I might be saved from death and pain,’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_). ‘Let me alone, I dare not stay, (_Christabel, Christabel_) The voices are calling, I must away!’ (_As dawns a summer’s morning_).