GLADYS I do not know how the majority of people feel when they sing, but with me the love of music was almost a passion.

I could forget my audience in a moment, and would be scarcely aware if the room were empty or crowded.
For example, on this evening I had no idea that the gentlemen had entered the room, and the first intimation of the fact was conveyed to me by hearing a 'Bravo!' uttered by Mr.Hamilton under his breath.
'But you must not leave off,' he went on, quite earnestly.

'I want you to treat us as you treat poor Phoebe Locke, and sing one song after another until you are tired.' I was about to refuse this request very civilly but decidedly, for I had no notion of obeying such an arbitrary command, when Miss Hamilton touched my arm.
'Oh, do please go on singing as Giles says: it is such a pleasure to hear you.' And after this I could no longer refuse.
So I sang one song after another, chiefly from memory, and sometimes I could hear a soft clapping of hands, and sometimes there was breathless silence, and a curious feeling came over me as I sang.

I thought that the only person to whom I was singing was Miss Hamilton, and that I was pleading with her to tell me the reason of her sadness, and why there was such a weary, hopeless look in her eyes, when the world was so young with her and the God-given gift of beauty was hers.
I was singing as though she and I were alone in the room, when Max suddenly whispered in my ear, 'That will do, Ursula,' and as soon as the verse concluded I left off.

But before I could rise Miss Darrell was beside us.
'Oh, thank you so much, Miss Garston; you are very amiable to sing so long.