"
"I thank you, sir. He will be rejoiced to hear of you."
"He does me too much honour."
These conventionalities being exhausted, a formidable pause ensued,
first broken by Mr. Belamour, "May I ask how my fair visitor likes
Bowstead?"
"It is a fine place, sir."
"But somewhat lonely for so youthful a lady?"
"I have the children, sir."
"I often hear their cheerful voices."
"I hope we do not disturb you, sir, I strive to restrain them, but I
fear we are all thoughtless."
"Nay, the innocent sounds of mirth ring sweetly on my ears, like the
notes of birds. And when I have heard a charming voice singing to the
little ones, I have listened with delight. Would it be too presumptuous
to beg the air songstress to repeat her song for the old recluse?"
"O, sir, I have only nursery ditties, caught from our old German maid,"
cried Aurelia, in dismay.
"That might not diminish the charm to me," he said. "In especial
there was one song whose notes Jumbo caught as you accompanied
yourself on the spinnet."
And Jumbo, who seemed able to see in the dark, played a bar on his
violin, while Aurelia trembled with shyness.
"The Nightingale Song," she said. "My dear mother learnt the tune
abroad. And I believe that she herself made the English words, when
she was asked what the nightingales say.
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