Page:Alice Lauder.pdf/214
her pallor and look of trouble seemed to bring out the original design with admirable harmony. Lizzie looked down with all her soul in her eyes—looked at Arthur as if she would read his inmost thoughts; but she could see nothing except that he was looking decidedly sulky, as Carrie had suggested. He stood with his back to the wall and his hands in his pockets, in a tolerably dark and quiet nook, all unaware that anyone could watch his proceedings; while his attention was fixed gloomily on the little impromptu stage. Apparently what he saw there gave him very little pleasure. Some people were getting music arranged; the professor seated himself at the piano, and, with the air of a man who knows what he is about, began to play the accompaniment to their duet.
“Oh, that we two were maying!” floated in clearest melody up the hall, and a fine baritone accompanied Alice’s pure liquid soprano notes.
Down the stream of the sweet Spring breeze;
Like children with violets playing
’Neath the shade of the whispering trees.”
It was really a beautiful, dreamlike piece of music, and all the audience testified to their enjoyment with the enthusiasm of people who hear a first-class professional performance with-