the next evening. As we expected to reach our wharf soon, we had finished
our packing, and were now sitting alone in a retired spot on deck on the
starboard side. As soon as we were comfortably arranged I said to my
companion:

"Margaret, as this is the last evening of this voyage, it makes an epoch
in our lives. Your school days are now over, and henceforth we hope to be
together. Would not this be a most appropriate time for me to be
introduced to a voice with which I propose to spend the rest of my life?
Last night you were anxious to think of something which would arouse my
dormant heart and draw out in more passionate expression my too obscure
affections. Your words haunted my sleeping and waking thoughts until it
fortunately occurred to me that you yourself had the very means for
accomplishing my reformation. You know how impressionable I am to every
wave of sound. Who knows but your voice, which I am sure will be the
sweetest in the world to me, may be the instrument destined to stir my
drowsy soul, to loose my halting tongue, and even to force my proud knees
to bend before you? In short, why not adopt my suggestion, break your
long-kept resolution, and sing for me this moment? Is the possible result
not worth the trial?" To this long address, which was a great effort for
me, Margaret answered:

"You surprise me already, Walter. If the mere thought of hearing me sing
can prompt such a sentimental speech as that, what would the song itself
do? Perhaps it would drive you to the other extreme, and you would become
gushing. Just think of that. But, seriously, I am afraid you would laugh
at my voice and send me back to Germany. When you were talking I thought I
could detect an undercurrent of fun in your words."

"I assure you I was never more in earnest in my life, and I am sorry you