"It was a song made for another girl, I believe ?" she asked lightly, and with an icy smile, inquired farther: "For the one--the one before the last, I understand ?" He lifted his head, surprised.

"What has that to do with it?
The music was made for you--but then, I think all music was made for you." "Leave the music out of it, if you please," she said, impatiently.

"Your talents make you modest! No doubt you consider it unmaidenly in me to have referred to the serenade before you spoke of it; but I am not one to cast down my eyes and let it pass.

No, nor one too sweet to face the truth, either!" she cried with sudden passion.

"To sing that song in the way you did, meant--oh, you thought I would flirt with you! What right had you to come with such a song to me ?" Tom intended only to disclaim the presumption, so far from his thoughts, that his song had moved her, for he could see that her attack was prompted by her inexplicable impression that he had assumed the attitude of a conqueror, but his explanation began unfortunately.
"Forgive me.