I never heard such a laugh before, so merry, so contagious; such a rich, round, ringing laugh; dying away one moment, then bursting out again in such a chorus! All at once she fixed her eyes on me, and starting up, came directly to me, planting her tall, finely formed, firm-set figure in the midst of the group around me.
"Come, _you_ must play and sing too.

I have no doubt your style will suit Mr.Linwood's delicate nerves." "I never play," I answered.
"Nor sing ?" "Only at home." "You have a face of music, I am sure." "Thank you.

I have a heart to appreciate it; that is a great gift." "But why don't you sing and play?
How do you expect to pass current in society, without being able to hang on the instrument as I do, or creep over it with mouselike fingers as most young ladies do?
I suppose you are very learned--very accomplished?
How many languages do you speak ?" "Only two at present," I answered, excessively amused by her eccentricity, and falling into her vein with a facility that quite surprised myself.

"I generally find the English tongue sufficient to express my ideas." "I suppose one of the two is German.

You will be considered a mere nobody here, if you do not understand German.