She was not feeling in the least nervous now. Her heart throbbed with happiness, as she realized her capability of giving pleasure, and a brilliant colour glowed in her cheeks, whilst her hazel eyes shone brightly.
The carol she sang was one she had heard in the little mission church in London during the previous Christmas season, but it was new to her audience.
"'When shepherds were abiding,
In Beth'lem's lonely field,
They heard the joyful tidings
By the heavenly host revealed.
At first they were affrighted,
But they soon forgot their fear,
While the angel sang of Christmas,
And proclaimed a bright new year.'"
That was the first verse; several others followed, concluding thus—
"'When he who came to Bethlehem
Returns to earth again,
Ten thousand thousand angels
Shall follow in His train:
Then saints shall sing in triumph,
Till heaven and earth shall hear;
The year of His redeemed shall come,
A bright immortal year.'"
The carol was as successful in pleasing as had been the psalm, and Mavis stepped from the platform and returned to her seat with the Mill House party, hearing commendatory remarks on all sides.
"Oh, Mavis," whispered Rose, "you sang beautifully, you did indeed!"
And she expressed the opinion of the whole room, including Mrs. John, who, for the first time, acknowledged that really Mavis owned a very sympathetic voice, and that the words she had sung had seemed to have come from her heart.
[CHAPTER X]
SICKNESS AT THE MILL HOUSE