Nothing, nobody, could quench the artist nature which, the instant the heavy weight of sorrow was taken away, sprang up like a living fountain in this girl's soul.

She sang, quite alone in the room, but with such a keen delight, such a perfect absorption of enjoyment, that she never noticed her husband's entrance till he had stood for some minutes behind her chair.

When he touched her she started, then smiled.
"Oh, it is only you!" "Only me.

Did I trouble you ?" "Oh no; was I not troubling you ?" "How, my dear ?" Christian could not tell.

Anyhow she found it impossible to explain, except that she had fancied he did not care for music.
"Perhaps I do, perhaps I don't.