“I believe you be one of my people!” exclaimed the Signor, after listening in breathless attention to a new piece which he had brought for her; her echoing tones died away, and rose again with gentler pathos, softly, and with sweeter tone, to fall again.

Unconsciously her eyes were fixed upon the Signor as he spoke, and her thoughts were carried back, far away; she knew not whither they would take her, but rousing from her reverie, she merely replied,—­“I love the peculiar air of your nation, it presents such a striking contrast to our cold, less pathetic style; but do not exclude what Winnie terms ’the productions of the genii’s more sensible moments’ from my list of favorites, for, as there are hours which are divided into sixty distinct parts, so there are divisions within the human heart, which must live each upon its own native air.”

“Natalie, darling, what were you talking with the Signor about?  From the few words which I caught, of the human heart, etc., I did not know but the presence of a third person might be agreeably dispensed with;” and it was overtaxing the fringed lids of the mischievous Winnie’s eyes, in adding to their duties the office of sentinel.

“Ah, you rogue; have your critic’s ears been listening to my feeble endeavors to repay the Signor for his untiring labors?”

“One can hear your music without listening, for I was deep in thought of the time when I shall come out from under the tyrannical power of instructors, and can do as I like; for my part, I am tired to death of this continual,—­’Miss Winifred, this piece must be executed with milder intonations;’ or, ’Miss Winifred, that chapter of Spanish must be told with greater fluency.’  I have come to dread the very name of Professor, and I never can look out of the window but I see some pale-faced gentleman of the profession approaching, with his badge under his arm; but those edifying ideas all vanished at the first strain of your ’Casta Diva.’  If I could produce such an effect, what would I not give;” and the beauty drew her arm around the Sea-flower, and spoke in a lower tone.

“Natalie, you know I shall come out on my eighteenth birthday, and that will be in a very short time; then I can do as I like; but how can I let all of these charming performances of the celebrated Madam Forresti, whose name is in every mouth, pass without hearing her?  I must say, I was completely nonplussed, when young Montague asked me, this morning, what I thought of her! and when I told him I had not heard her as yet, he was perfectly astonished, and said I must hear her this very night!”

“But you did not accept of his invitation, Winnie?”

“How could I resist such a temptation?  I have been longing to hear Madam Forresti, and with Mr. Montague for an escort, I do not see the least impropriety in attending.  I need not trouble mother about it, for she is so nervous to-day she will not leave her room; and I do not think she can object to my going.”