I thought it was an extraordinarily close bond of sympathy and mutual understanding, brought about principally by our enjoyment of one another's music.

We spent hours in the music-room.

I put it down to that; yet when he looked at me his eyes seemed to touch as well as see me, and it was a very tender and wonderful touch.

And all the while I never thought of love.

I was so plain and almost middle-aged; and he, such a beautiful, radiant youth.