The magistrate announced his decision. He had deep sympathy, he said, for the complainant, a gifted and estimable lady. He knew that the musical temperament was sensitive as the violin—yes. But it also appeared from the evidence that the Armstrong family were a good, a worthy family, lacking only a knowledge of music to make them acceptable neighbors. Therefore he decided that the Armstrong family should hire a competent teacher, and that, until able to play without giving offence to the neighbors, they should close the window. With that understanding he would find the defendants not guilty; and each party must pay its own costs. Perley glanced at Amos, who grinned and repeated, “Fritz has got good sense.” [Illustration: “‘THEY HAVE ENGAGED _ME_’”] “I’d have won my hat,” said Perley, “but I’m not kicking. Just look at Miss Beaumont, though.” Henriette had listened in stony calm. She did not once look at Pauline, who was standing at the other side of the room. “Come, sister,” she said to Mysie. Mysie turned a scared face on Henriette. She drew her aside. “Did you hear what he said?” she whispered. “Oh, Henriette, _what_ shall we do? We shall have to pay the costs—” “The Armstrongs will have to pay them too,” said Henriette, grimly. “Theirs won’t be so much, because none of their witnesses will take a cent; but the Fullers and Miss Delaney want their fees, and it’s a dollar and a half, and there’s—” “We shall have to borrow it from John Perley,” said Henriette. “But he isn’t here, and maybe they’ll put us in jail if we don’t pay. Oh, Henriette, why did you—” This, Mysie’s first and last reproach of her sovereign, was cut short by the approach of Pauline. At her side walked young Armstrong. And Pauline, who used to be so timid, presented him without a tremor. “I wanted to tell you, Miss Beaumont,” said Ike, “that I did not understand that we were disturbing you so much when you were sick. Not being musical, we could not appreciate what we were making you suffer. But I beg you to believe, ma’am, that we are all very sorry. And I didn’t think it no more than right that I should pay all the costs of this case—which I have done gladly. I hope you will forgive us, and that we may all of us live as good neighbors in future. We will try not to annoy you, and we have engaged a very fine music-teacher.” “They have engaged _me_,” said Pauline. And as she spoke she let the young man very gently draw her hand into his arm. HIS DUTY HIS DUTY