Kismet (Volume 10)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. Where neither check, nor change, nor fall Shall move ns from the eternal height, --It may be Bo! God knoweth all, And ordereth all our ways aright. RIO, sing: Douglas, ' won't you? It was about a week after the events narrated in the last chapter, and Mara had stolen away from the drawing-room for an hour's music before Mr. Mac-Norman would be wanted to make one at a rubber of whist, and now she stands by the open piano lifting her eager face, as she makes her request. The young man complied. It was a simple tender little Irish ballad, and the listener's face drooped and flushed, perchance because the musician's eyes rested so fondly on her. The last notes died away, and Eric, pausing a moment, struck the first few notes of one of Mara's especial favourites-- Dreaming of Thee. Do you ever perpetrate such fol-ly? he asked. As what? she replied saucily--dreaming of you, do you mean? No, Mr. Mac-Norman, I cannot say you ever haunted my nightly visions. I did dream of you, once! he whispered. She raised her eyes laughingly-- Did you? how funny! What was it about? You would not ca-re to hear? Child though she was, she was still woman enough to understand by the odd quiver in his tone that she had better not press her enquiries farther. Perhaps her companion was disappointed at her sileuce, for he drammed idly on the notes with one hand, stroking his moustache meditatively with the other. But romance and sentiment could have no part for long in a nature such as his, and while she felt uncomfortable and confused, he broke into a laugh and some nonsensical remark, which completely restored her self-possession. Miss Mara, can I speak to you for a moment? Yes, Mrs. Grant. Hastily excusing herself, and promising to be back directly, Ma...