She hesitated awhile as to the language in which to sing, and was turning over the leaves of a book handed her by Master Christian.

The old Deodati expressed a wish to hear a song in the language of the Low Countries, and begging pardon of the Italian gentlemen, Mary said she would sing a _Kyrie Eleison_ in her maternal tongue.
Master Christian seated himself at the piano, to accompany her, and commenced a prelude.
The first notes of the young girl were like a gentle murmur.

By degrees her voice became firmer and stronger, until at the end of each strophe the word _eleison_ rose like a sonorous hymn to heaven.
The measure was remarkably slow, simple, and full of a tranquil melody.
Mary evidently felt the peculiar character of this chant, for instead of endeavoring to add to the effect, she softened still more her singularly sweet voice, and let the words drop slowly from her lips, as if the songstress herself were ravished in contemplation and was listening to celestial music.
At first the Italian gentlemen exchanged glances, as if to express the thought that this chant could not compare with the brilliant lively style of the Italian music.

But this unfavorable opinion was not of long duration.

They, like all others, soon yielded to the irresistible fascination of Mary's exquisite voice.