light comedy manner:

"No, no, Richmond. Let us keep up the illusion. The gentleman has done us
a service; otherwise we had lost the best half of Mrs. Detlor's song.
We'll not put him at disadvantage."

"Oh, but look here, Hagar," said the other protestingly as he laid his
hand upon the curtains.

Few men could resist the quiet decision of Hagar's manner, though he often
laughed that, having but a poor opinion of his will as he knew it, and
believing that he acted firmness without possessing it, save where he was
purely selfish. He put his hands in his pockets carelessly, and said in a
low, decisive tone, "Don't do it, if you please."

But he smiled, too, so that others, now gossiping, were unaware that the
words were not of as light comedy as the manner. Hagar immediately began a
general conversation and asked Baron to sing "The Banks o' Ben Lomond,"
feeling sure that Mrs. Detlor did not wish to sing again. Again she sent
him a quick look of thanks and waved her fingers in protest to those who
were urging her. She clapped her hands as she saw Baron rise, and the
others, for politeness sake, could not urge her more.

* * * * *

For the stranger. Only the morning of that day he had arrived at the
pretty town of Herridon among the hills and moors, set apart for the idle
and ailing of this world. Of the world literally, for there might be seen
at the pump-room visitors from every point of the compass--Hindoo
gentlemen brought by sons who ate their legal dinners near Temple Bar;