A Woman of Culture, Chapter XII-XIV [pp. 771-801]

i88i.] A WfMAAr OF CULTURE. 799
She rejected this last thought with indignation, and chided
herself severely for thinking even inadvertently so poorly of her
friend. When she reached the parlors once more the general
seized upon her and carried her off to the music-room.
"For you have left that sweet voice of yours shamefully
alone," said the general, "and have not made a single effort to
amuse any one this evening."
But before they arrived at the music-room Sir Stanley, who
must have been lurking somewhere in the vicinity, was taken
under the general's protection. Olivia was anxious to atone for
her previous hard-hearte~ness, and smiled and spoke so kindly
that, indifferent as he pretended to be, his heart was beating, and
he secretly blessed Mrs. Strachan, to whose good services he at tributed this favorable change in the mood of his lady-love.
There were few persons in the room when they entered, and the
piano was silent. Dr. Fullerton sat alone at a table looking over
some engravings. His face was grave as usual, but sadder, and
his attention seemed anywhere save on the pictures.
"Look at him," whispered Olivia to the baronet when the
general went off to hunt up some music. "He is in love, Sir
Stanley, and believes it to be hopeless. He has moped like that
the whole evening, stealing into the presence of his charmer,
and stealing out again, guiltily; afraid to go, and dreading to
stay in her presence. And he wears her photograph next his
heart."
"And who is the favored one, Olivia?" asked the baronet
with real interest.
"Who but the divinest of her sex, the glorious Nano?"
"Not quite the divinest," said the amorous baronet, with an other of his effective and meaning looks. "But I am very glad
to hear it. They are made for each other, and he will be her sal vation."
"My very thought," said Olivia rapturously.
"`Two souls with but a single-'"
"Sir Stanley, you may turn the music, interrupted the gene ral. "Your musical talent has been developed enough for that
office, I trust."
"My cool-headedness you mean," returned the baronet.
"Or cold-heartedness," said the general. "I will engage that
N you are not often disturbed by the sound of a voice or the gla mour of blue eyes."
"Only in one particular instance, Mrs. Strachan. Come, Oli via.