instinct that she would not have done as much
for Bulstock, captain though he might be. Oh,
how I loved that woman!

I never heard such music as that, so wild, so
mysterious, so creeping, so melodious, so like
that to which the peerless Buzzemena had
entered. Indeed, she very much recalled
that witching being, who had black hair also.
"Do, do, go on," I said half frantically, when
she had done; I must have had a wistful face
as I spoke. And about the room was said once
more, "'Pon my word, quite a conquest, my
dear!" By this the officers of justice had taken
me by the wrist: " Now you are worrying Miss
Burkenshaw, come away." My love, so I hope
I may call her without disrespect, interposed at
once. " Indeed he must not. I won't have my
beau taken from me." The bright intelligent
face, and the lustrous hair were bent down to
me, and I could have put my arms round her
neck and embraced her. Again from the crowd
came smiles, and I heard the talismanic words
" 'Pon my word, Captain Bulstock!"

She played again, another waltz, in which her
divine fingers seemed themselves to dance.

It was at this juncture that visitors were
announced, and a pompous voice behind said:

"Now, I beg — really—don't let us interrupt."
It was Goodman, the father, with his eldest
born, my opponent and rival. " We heard it
below," said Mr. Goodman, "and waited
outside the door. A fine masterly touch, ma'am.
Reminds me of Cramer. This is my son,
ma'am, whom we shall make a musician of in
time. He is learning under Mr. Shepherd.
Harmony, thorough-bass, and all the rest of it."

A pang went through my heart as I saw her
turn and look at William with interest, with
much the same sort of interest as she had first
looked at me.

"Ask him to get from D into G," went on
Mr. Goodman, " and see how he'll do it."

"Yes, pa," said the odious William. " You
take the chord of D with a diminished seventh."

Every one looked with admiration at this
learning. Even she listened with curiosity. I
could " diminish" nothing, as I was told
contemptuously later, except a piece of thick
bread-and-butter. Overwhelmed with mortification
and grief, I slunk away further and further
from the piano, trying to gain the jungle, whence
I could glare out from between the branches.
There the bright face, however, soon detected
me, and brought me forth, and whispered, and
comforted me. Again William the Odious intruded
on our bliss, saying, in his cool, forward way:

"Look here, Miss Burkenshaw, I know
about the minor thirds and all that."

Again she became curious.

"You are a wonderful young gentleman
indeed!" she said.

Going away, she was talking earnestly and
whispering to the head of the house.

"O, indeed, you must—and I make a point
of it — to oblige me."

"O, really, he must attend to his books; he
is so idle, and don't deserve any indulgence."
This, of course, was only the proper language
to be applied to me on all occasions; but now
LOVE made me suspicious. "Well, we'll see."

"But I won't go till you promise."

Then I heard the words, " Tritonville,
Tuesday."

She faded out, and I was wretched. A day
passed over, then another day. I was more
wretched. Suddenly I was summoned to the
Council Chamber, and an address of peculiar
solemnity was made to me. I was told it was
high time to turn over a new leaf, and think of
becoming a man, if I ever was to do so at all.
That it was useless giving me indulgences, as it
only had the effect of making me more dissipated
and hopelessly abandoned to pleasure;
that it was certain if I received any favour or
relaxation I would make a bad use of it.
Still, would it be any use giving me one more
chance? If I was allowed to go out, would I
make an exertion for once, and try and learn,
and not disgrace us all? &c.; and here the
gallows was once more introduced in perspective.

In short, it came to this: The Burkenshaws
were giving at Tritonville, a ball, and in the
kindest manner had asked me. It was hinted
that it was more than probable that my
tendency to larcency burglary or other crimes would
bring disgrace on the family and interrupt the
ball; but still that risk would be run, and
provided I showed extra diligence between this
time and that, I might be allowed to go.

Now, will be understood the significance of
the unwonted interest in the vast tailoring
preparations on foot, the gorgeousness of the blue
and silver, the velvet collar, and other superb
decorations. The costume was pushed on with
ardour. A sort of private rehearsal was held
the night before, and I was encouraged with the
assurance " that I now looked something like a
gentleman, and that if I could only contrive to
behave in a corresponding way I should do very
fairly."

I do not like to dwell on the interval.
Suffice it to say, that the phrase in the
novels, "feverish excitement," became quite
intelligible to me, and that "restlessness"
became equally familiar. It was at this time
also that Mr. Blackstone said, looking at
me in a reflective way, " I am beginning to
have some hopes of you, Sidney. If you go on in
this way, I may almost promise that you will
begin algebra next month. But," he added,
despondingly, "you won't. The old Adam is
too strong in you." And then he used the
rather alarming argument: " You see, my young
friend, as you have shown us that you can apply
yourself, we must keep you to it, and have no
excuses in future." And Mr. Blackstone rubbed
his hands with hilarity, and looked at me sideways.

At last the morning of the day came round.
The anxiety of that day could not be described.
The dogged slowness with which the hours
moved, produced a choking at the throat, and a
heaviness at the heart. At four o'clock P.M.