Mr. Kane was the organist of St. Jude's church, a man of embarrassment
and sorrow, who had long had a sore fight with the world. When he
arrived at East Lynne, the following day, dispatched by Mr. Carlyle,
Lady Isabel happened to be playing, and she stood by, and watched him
begin his work. She was courteous and affable--she was so to every
one--and the poor music master took courage to speak of his own affairs,
and to prefer a humble request--that she and Lord Mount Severn would
patronize and personally attend a concert he was about to give the
following week. A scarlet blush came into his thin cheeks as he
confessed that he was very poor, could scarcely live, and he was getting
up this concert in his desperate need. If it succeeded well, he could
then go on again; if not, he should be turned out of his home, and
his furniture sold for the two years' rent he owed--and he had seven
children.

Isabel, all her sympathies awakened, sought the earl. "Oh, papa! I have
to ask you the greatest favor. Will you grant it?"

"Ay, child, you don't ask them often. What is it?"

"I want you to take me to a concert at West Lynne."

The earl fell back in surprise, and stared at Isabel. "A concert at West
Lynne!" he laughed. "To hear the rustics scraping the fiddle! My dear
Isabel!"

She poured out what she had just heard, with her own comments and
additions. "Seven children, papa! And if the concert does not succeed he
must give up his home, and turn out into the streets with them--it is,
you see, almost a matter of life or death with him. He is very poor."