sharps and flats. I can play that accompaniment for you if you like.
No? Well, just as you think best. But remember, it takes a lot of
voice to make much effect in this concert-room, and the place is
crowded. Now--the duchess has done. Come on. Mind the bottom step.
Hang it all! How dark it is behind this curtain!"

Garth gave her his hand, and Jane mounted the steps and passed into
view of the large audience assembled in the Overdene concert-room.
Her tall figure seemed taller than usual as she walked alone across
the rather high platform. She wore a black evening gown of soft
material, with old lace at her bosom and one string of pearls round
her neck. When she appeared, the audience gazed at her and applauded
doubtfully. Velma's name on the programme had raised great
expectations; and here was Miss Champion, who certainly played very
nicely, but was not supposed to be able to sing, volunteering to
sing Velma's song. A more kindly audience would have cheered her to
the echo, voicing its generous appreciation of her effort, and
sanguine expectation of her success. This audience expressed its
astonishment, in the dubiousness of its faint applause.

Jane smiled at them good-naturedly; sat down at the piano, a
Bechstein grand; glanced at the festoons of white roses and the
cross of crimson ramblers; then, without further preliminaries,
struck the opening chord and commenced to sing.

The deep, perfect voice thrilled through the room.

A sudden breathless hush fell upon the audience.

Each syllable penetrated the silence, borne on a tone so tender and