And, after a few arpeggio chords, she sung as follows:--
"Look afar thro' the gloom, weary heart, To yon dim and faint revealing, The glim'ring ray Of distant day O'er life's troubled ocean stealing.
It comes with endless joy, sad heart, A glorious sunburst beaming, With peace and love From heaven above, O'er sin and sorrow streaming.
Soon the dark waters past, sad heart, Thou'lt rest in thy spirit home, Where we part no more From those gone before Across life's billowy foam.
There no falsehood shall oppress thee, Nor sorrow's dark'ning gloom, For free is the soul That has reached its goal, In the world beyond the tomb."
"Well, Miss Vernon," remarked Mr. Storey, "that's quite too melancholy a song for me--the dismals never suit my book."
"My dear! it is beautiful, and made me cry, I could not help it!" exclaimed his wife.
"You say the words are original," observed Langley.
"Yes, I am almost sure they were written by Mr. Gilpin's sister, who died of consumption shortly before we went to A----."
"They suit the air remarkably--the song makes an impression I shall not easily forget nor your singing of it," added Langley, more to himself than to Kate.
"Now, Miss Vernon, may I ask for that march we liked so much, yesterday?" said Mrs. Storey, and soon afterwards they separated for the night.
The next morning was most perseveringly wet, and both Mrs. Storey and Kate agreed that the most determined picture-maniac would hardly venture out in such weather.
"But you will see, he will come for all that," concluded Mrs. Storey.
"Then _you_ must receive him," said Kate, "I will not appear."
"Gracious goodness," cried her hostess. "What shall I say about you?"
"Do not trouble yourself to think--send for me, and the message I shall return will relieve you of all responsibility."
"He dare not!" said Kate, with a sudden lighting of the eye, and proud drawing up of the head that seemed to her good easy friend like the revelation of some unknown world. "Well my dear, whatever you like," she said, meekly.
Mrs. Storey's conjectures proved true, for, notwithstanding the weather, Lord Effingham arrived punctually at the time specified.
Kate felt her heart beat a little nervously, as she watched him walking across the garden, from the window of the nursery where she had ensconced herself.