Music was a natural language to her as it was to Radowitz, though her gift was so small and slight compared to his.

But she understood and followed him; and there sprang up in her, as she sat turning her delicate face to the musician, that sudden, impassioned delight, that sense of fellowship with things vast and incommunicable--"exultations, agonies, and love, and man's unconquerable mind"-- which it is the glorious function of music to kindle in the human spirit.
[Illustration: _Lady Connie had stood entranced by the playing of Radowitz_] The twilight darkened.

Every sound in the room but Radowitz's playing had ceased; even Mrs.Hooper had put down her newspaper.

Nora, on the further side of the room, was absorbed in watching the two beautiful figures under the lamplight, the golden-haired musician and the listening girl.
Suddenly there was a noise of voices in the hall outside.

The drawing-room door was thrown open, and the parlourmaid announced: "Mr.Falloden." Mrs.Hooper rose hastily.