"What a dreary life, not even to know that sounds were beautiful! I suppose all the voices he hears must be harsh and unnatural, and those are the only kinds of sounds he would attend to." Looking at him from this new point of view, the feeling of mistrust and uncertainty of a few minutes before was forgotten.

Standing near the margin of the basin was a rustic bench fantastically made of curved and knotted branches, the back and arms contrived in rude scroll-work, and the seat made of round transverse pieces, through whose interstices the rain-water had passed, leaving it comparatively dry.

Cornelia sat down upon it and motioned Bressant to take his place by her side.

As he did so, she could not help a slight thrill of dismay.

He was so very big, and took up so much room! Bressant sat looking straight before him, and said nothing.