At last they came to a decided halt, when the proposition to return caused Adela to come up to Mr.Pericles and say to him, "Now, you must confess! You have prohibited her from singing to-night so that we may continue to be mystified.

I call this quite shameful of you!" And even as Mr.Pericles was protesting that he was the most mystified of the company, his neck lengthened, and his head went round, and his ear was turned to the sky, while he breathed an elaborate "Ah!" And sure enough that was the voice of the woods, cleaving the night air, not distant.

A sleepy fire of early moonlight hung through the dusky fir-branches.

The voice had the woods to itself, and seemed to fill them and soar over them, it was so full and rich, so light and sweet.

And now, to add to the marvel, they heard a harp accompaniment, the strings being faintly touched, but with firm fingers.