226

THE MAGIC CRYSTAL; OR,

“You recognised me, then?” De Grey had said, bendingdown, and gazing admiringly upon her sweet face.

“ Oh, yes !” she replied immediately: “I could not mistakeyour voice.” Then blushing deeply, “ I hoped to meet you whenI saw you opposite, to thank you for your help that night; andmamma, too-”

The stranger’s look beamed—the first real ray of unmixedpleasure which had lit up his noble features. So strangelypowerful was its influence, that she whom he addressed felther heart bound beneath the expression, anxious, apparently,to speak again; for his eyes were still upon hers, and theirfervour brought the eloquent blood to her cheek.

“ Do you notice that old man yonder, so calm and observant,his eyes gleaming from under their deep brows? How he watchesthe actress as she breathes her impassioned song!—No wonder!How beautifully she warbles! how tall and majestic her figuretowers ! Poor, little, insignificant old man ! ”

“Suppose I were to tell you, that ere long the dwarf you lookat and the brilliant singer will be man and wife ? Meanwhile,that every note she warbles is for his ear—that every passionategesture is dictated by her affection for him? And well it may be,for in that cramped and puny body breathes a soul which shortlywill place its owner upon the very Ida of the intellect. No !you would not believe me ?—I thought not!”

At this moment Leila rejoined them, and overhearing a partof the preceding sentence, asked De Grey his opinion of a facenot far from them.

“ Do you think there is anything melancholy about MissCastleford ’s expression—I mean the great beauty yonder? Icannot see aught but joyous life as she turns, first to one andthen to another, among her host of admirers ; yet MissGreville thinks she recognises sadness amidst all her vivacity.”

De Grey looked down. “ Miss Greville is right,” he said,