[The Two Vanrevels by Booth Tarkington]@TWC D-Link bookThe Two Vanrevels CHAPTER IX 9/11
The guests had long since departed; the windows were still and dark under the wan old moon, which had risen lamely, looking unfamiliar and not half itself; the air bore an odor of lateness, and nothing moved; when a delicate harmony stole out of the shadows beyond the misty garden.
Low but resonant chords sounded on the heavier strings of a guitar, while above them, upon the lighter wires, rippled a slender, tinkling melody that wooed the slumberer to a delicious half-wakefulness, as dreamily, as tenderly, as the croon of rain on the roof soothes a child to sleep.
Under the artist's cunning touch the instrument was both the accompaniment and the song; and Miss Betty, at first taking the music to be a wandering thread in the fabric of her own bright dreams, drifted gradually to consciousness to find herself smiling.
Her eyes opened wide, but half closed again with the ineffable sweetness of the sound. Then a voice was heard, eerily low, yet gallant and clear, a vibrant baritone, singing to the guitar. "My lady's hair, That dark delight, Is both as fair And dusk as night. I know some lovelorn hearts that beat In time to moonbeam twinklings fleet, That dance and glance like jewels there, Emblazoning the raven hair! "Ah, raven hair! So dark and bright, What loves lie there Enmeshed, to-night? I know some sighing lads that say Their hearts were snared and torn away; And now as pearls one fate they share, Entangled in the raven hair. "Ah, raven hair, From such a plight Could you not spare One acolyte? I know a broken heart that went To serve you but as ornament.
Alas! a ruby now you wear, Ensanguining the raven hair!" The song had grown fainter and fainter, the singer moving away as he sang, and the last lines were almost inaudible in the distance The guitar could be heard for a moment or two more, then silence came again. It was broken by a rustling in the room next to Miss Betty's, and Mrs. Tanberry called softly through the open door: "Princess, are you awake? Did you hear that serenade ?" After a pause the answer came hesitatingly in a small, faltering voice: "Yes--if it was one.
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