What would he not have given for such a soft expression in those glorious eyes when she looked at _him_! "Since you are in a ventriloqual mood," answered Mr.Fitzgerald, "I should like to hear again what you played the last time I was here,--Agatha's Moonlight Prayer, from _Der Freyschuetz_." She smiled, and with voice and instrument produced the indescribably dreamy effect of the two flutes.

It was the very moonlight of sound.
"This is perfectly magical," murmured Alfred.

He spoke in a low, almost reverential tone; for the spell of moonlight was on him, and the clear, soft voice of the singer, the novelty of her peculiar beauty, and the surpassing gracefulness of her motions, as she swayed gently to the music of the tones she produced, inspired him with a feeling of poetic deference.

Through the partially open window came the lulling sound of a little trickling fountain in the garden, and the air was redolent of jasmine and orange-blossoms.

On the pier-table was a little sleeping Cupid, from whose torch rose the fragrant incense of a nearly extinguished _pastille_.