"No," said Winter, "a soliloquy or a _tête à tête_ is best by moon-light; but for a social party, large or small, it is too bold and pure a light; we'd find our spirits flag under its influence." "Then let us shut it out speedily," said the Colonel, drawing the curtains and opening the piano; "I suppose, Egerton, we may include you among the lovers of music?" Assenting to this readily, I moved to where Miss Vernon was again inspecting the dusky book. "May I see the treasure you have found?" "Oh yes, you see it is an old book of chants, how curious the square-headed notes are! I suppose they are genuine Gregorian; have you tried any of them yet, Mr. Gilpin?" "Almost all; some are very rude, but many of them are beautiful; I long to try their effect with several voices; and with your assistance, as you say you will be so good, I hope soon to have the children in training." "If you think I am capable." "Kate," said her grandfather, "Winter has brought his violin; give us that German duet I like so much." After a little tuning, they began, and kept most perfectly together; I have seldom heard a more charming performance. Both evidently understood, not only the music, but each other's feeling of it, while Miss Vernon's round white fingers seemed to make a living, feeling creature of the inanimate instrument. "Well, that is well done; you improve," I heard the Organist say, in tones of great satisfaction, while we were more noisily applauding; and Kate looked up in his face with such complete reliance on his judgment, and delight in his approbation, that I felt a strange thrill of vexation to think how dubious it was that such would ever be called forth by me. Mr. Gilpin, now taking Miss Vernon's place at the piano, poured forth a beautiful "_sinfonia_," I think they call it; and Miss Vernon accepting the seat I vacated for her, sat listening and abstracted, her full eyes gazing on some imaginary object, unconscious of all around her; a slight tremor sometimes passing over her curved upper lip. Rousing herself with an almost imperceptible sigh, she turned her eyes full on me, interrupting abruptly the long gaze in which I had indulged, "How beautiful! what a story that music seems to tell." At this moment the music, slow and of touching sadness, had glided by a succession of sweeping chords into a bolder and more martial strain. "You have a great deal of imagination, Miss Vernon." "That is a polite way of saying you are a visionary." "No, no, there is nothing visionary about you, but I respect imagination." "Then you are a rare specimen of your sex, Captain Egerton." "Yes, we have less imagination, but then our life is much more practical." "Has yours been a very practical life?" "Mine! do not ask me to look at it." She laughed low but merrily. "This has been a delightful evening to me; I have to thank you for a peep into a new world, Miss Vernon."