“I can’t allow this,” said Easelmann.  “You have had your share of Mrs. Sandford’s time.  It is my turn.  Besides, you will forget it all when you cross the room.”

“Trust me, I shall never forget,” said Greenleaf, with a marked emphasis, and a grateful look towards the lovely widow.

“What’s this?  What’s this?” said Easelmann, rapidly.  “Insatiate trifler, could not one suffice?”

“Oh, we understand each other, perfectly,” said Mrs. Sandford, in a placid tone.

“You do, eh?  I should have interrupted you sooner.  It might have saved my peace of mind, and perhaps relieved some other anxieties I have witnessed.  But go, now!” Greenleaf turned away with a smile.

Marcia at once proposed a duet to conclude the entertainment, —­Rossini’s Mira bianca luna,—­a piece for which she had reserved her force, and in which she could display the best qualities of her voice and style.  Greenleaf had a high and pure tenor voice; he exerted himself to support her, and with some success; the duet was a fitting close to a delightful and informal concert.  But he was thoroughly sobered; the effects he produced were from cool deliberation, rather than the outbursts of an enthusiastic temper.  Earlier in the evening the tones and the glances of his companion would have sent fiery thrills along his nerves and lifted him above all self-control.

In the buzz of voices that followed, Marcia commenced a lively colloquy with Greenleaf, as though she desired to leave him under the impressions with which the evening commenced.  The amusements of summer were discussed, the merits of watering-places and other fashionable resorts, when Greenleaf accidentally mentioned that he and Easelmann were going presently to Nahant.

“Delightful!” she exclaimed, “to enjoy the ocean and coast-scenery after the rush of company has left!  While the fashionable season lasts, there is nothing but dress and gossip.  You are wise to avoid it.”

“I think so,” he replied.  “Neither my tastes nor my pursuits incline me to mingle in what is termed fashionable society.  It makes too large demands upon one’s time, to say nothing of the expense or the unsatisfactory nature of its pleasures.”

“I agree with you.  So you are going to sketch.  Would not you and Mr. Easelmann like some company?  You will not pore over your canvas all day, surely.”

“We should be delighted; I should, certainly.  And if you will look at my friend’s face just now, as he is talking to your beautiful sister-in-law, you will see that he would not object.”

“Do you think Lydia is beautiful?”
The tone was quiet, but the glance questioning.

“Not classically beautiful,—­but one of the most lovely, engaging women I ever met.”

“Yes,—­she is charming, truly.  I don’t think her strikingly handsome, though; but tastes rarely agree, you know.  I only asked to ascertain your predilections.”