'Partial, what mean you by that, Mary?' asked Ellen, as a slight blush overspread her beautiful features. 'He has been very kind and attentive to all of us during our voyage, and such treatment requires, in my opinion, at least civility in return.'
Before Mary could find time to reply to the words of her companion, the ears of both our fair captives were suddenly astonished by the sound of a female voice, singing in a sweet, low tone of touching melody the following words—
'Beware, beware,
Of the false and fair,
For many a noble form,
Hides a heart within,
Quite as full of sin,
And as black as the midnight storm.'
'This must be the very palace of enchantment,' exclaimed Ellen, as the voice of the singer abruptly ceased, 'where one could almost be led to forget their own personal identity. But hark, I hear the strange voice again.'
Ellen and her companion again listened in almost breathless silence as the invisible vocalist continued her song, thus:
'Beware, beware,
For grief and care
Broods over the youthful heart,
And the chastening rod
Of an Infinite God,
His justice will soon impart.'
Here the voice of the invisible songster again ceased, and although both Ellen and her companion listened long for its repetition, they listened in vain, for it was heard no more.
After a short interval of silence had elapsed, Mary Hamilton addressed her companion as follows—
'The thought has just entered my mind of attempting to escape from this strange and horrible place.'
'I must own, dear Mary,' replied Ellen, 'that the place is strange enough to terrify a less romantic person than myself, still I think it far from being horrible. This room is almost as elegantly furnished as was my dear mother's in London, and then only think of the delightful music which has so lately greeted our ears.'