In spite of
the sense of past omission which had been aroused by his nephew's
visit, it had evidently raised his spirits, for he laughed when
Aurelia spiced her descriptions with a little playful archness, and
his voice became more cheery.
So, too, it was on the ensuing evening when Aurelia, to compensate
for the last day's neglect, came primed with three or four pages of
the conversation between Priam and Achilles, which she rehearsed with
great feeling, thinking, like Pelides himself, of her own father and
home. It was requited with a murmured "Bravo," and Mr. Belamour
then begged of her, if she were not weary, to favour him with the
Nightingale Song, Jumbo as usual accompanying her with his violin.
At the close there was again a "Bravo! Truly exquisite!" in a tone
as if the hermit were really finding youth and life again. Once
more at his request, she sang, and was applauded with even more
fervour, with a certain tremulous eagerness in the voice. Yet
there was probably a dread of the excitement being too much, for
this was followed by "Thank you, kind songstress, I could listen for
ever, but it is becoming late, and I must not detain you longer."
She found herself handed out of the room, with somewhat curtailed good
nights, although nine o'clock, her usual signal, had not yet struck.
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