the room seemed to take a look of sharpened anxiety as to how the
duet was to end, and who was to be victor.

Nobody knowing Miss Barks need to have, been in any doubt as to
that! Crash came the last chord, and the poor flute, nearly half
a page behind, was left shrilly hanging, in mid-air, forsaken and
companionless, an object of derision to gods and men.

'Ah! I took it a little fast!' said the lady, triumphantly looking
up at the discomfited clergyman.

'Mr. Elsmere,' said Rose, hiding herself in the window-curtain
beside him, that she might have her laugh in safety, 'do they play
like that in Oxford, or has Long Whindale a monopoly?'

But before be could answer, Mrs. Thornburgh called to the girl.

'Rose! Rose! Don't go out again! It is your turn next!'

Rose advanced reluctantly, her head in air. Robert, remembering
something that Mrs. Thornburgh had said to him as to her musical
power, supposed that she felt it an indignity to be asked to play
in such company.

Mrs. Thornburgh motioned to him to come and sit by Mrs. Leyburn, a
summons which he obeyed with the more alacrity, as it brought him
once more within reach of Mrs. Leyburn's oldest daughter.

'Are you fond of music, Mr. Elsmere?' asked Mrs. Leyburn in her
little mincing voice, making room for his chair beside them. 'If