"I do admire the clever Earl immensely, and not only because it is the decree of the god of fashion."
"I wish we had the evening to ourselves," he murmured, "what do you think of the Irishman?"
"He is lavish of the superlative degree; is good-hearted as his race; and for the time being, feels intensely," she answered.
Miss Marchmont, now asking her mother to join her in the duet, "Come where my love lies dreaming," they glided arm in arm to the piano, and now Miss Marchmont implored of some one to come where her love lay dreaming, in a shrill treble, while her mother repeated the request in a very fair alto.
O'Gormon challenged Vaura to a game at chess.
Lionel fell into a brown study of his future plans to undo the mischief done by a woman's tongue. The poor fellow often glanced at Vaura in all her loveliness, and a pain came to his heart as he looked, for he thought of how he was leaving her, not knowing if she loved him, and with other men about her; and of how, with the torture that he might lose her weighing him down, he was going out from her alone to find Sister Magdalen, and see if she would openly reveal all. She had been reticent and guarded for years, and he was not in a mood to hope much.
But now he hears the clear voice of Vaura cry, "checkmate," and
O'Gormon leads her to the piano.
Vaura gave them a gem of Mozart's, then some gay opera airs, then, in response to their pleading for some song, gave "Il Bacio," in her full rich tones.
Sir Dennis stood by the piano and looked his admiration.
"You seem fond of music, Sir Dennis," said the fair musician, as she leisurely turned over the music with him in search for a song from "Traviata."