They met every night, sitting later with the lengthening summer evenings, and every night, as by some tacit understanding, played the "Areopagita" suite before parting.

At the opening bars of the _Gagliarda_ the creaking of the chair occurred spontaneously with the utmost regularity.

They seldom spoke even to one another of the subject; but one night, when John was putting away his violin after a long evening's music without having played the "Areopagita," Mr.Gaskell, who had risen from the pianoforte, sat down again as by a sudden impulse and said-- "Johnnie, do not put away your violin yet.

It is near twelve o'clock and I shall get shut out, but I cannot stop to-night without playing the _Gagliarda_.

Suppose that all our theories of vibration and affinity are wrong, suppose that there really comes here night by night some strange visitant to hear us, some poor creature whose heart is bound up in that tune; would it not be unkind to send him away without the hearing of that piece which he seems most to relish?
Let us not be ill-mannered, but humour his whim; let us play the _Gagliarda_." They played it with more vigour and precision than usual, and the now customary sound of one taking his seat at once ensued.