"And how true--this is not the golden age, Miss Challoner, but the age of gold--there is a vast difference between Arcady and Philistia, I assure you."
"I think I'll take your advice," observed Blake gaily, "perhaps I've got a fortune in my throat, who knows?"
"Who, indeed?" said the artist gravely, "they pay nightingales well now-a-days."
"All the better for Mr. Blake," said Una lightly, "but how rude I am, I must introduce you two gentlemen to the organist--Miss Mosser--Dr. Nestley and Mr. Beaumont."
Beaumont, not knowing Cecilia was blind, merely bowed, but Nestley took the fragile hand of the girl and grasped it warmly.
"I enjoyed your playing so much," he said heartily, "where did you learn?"
On hearing his voice the pale face of the blind girl coloured, and a painfully eager look crossed her features, as if she were trying to see the speaker's countenance in spite of her infirmity.
"What a beautiful voice," she murmured softly, and Nestley had to repeat his question before she answered:
"At the school for the blind at Hampstead," she said turning towards him, which reply gave Nestley a painful shock as he realized her misfortune. With delicate tact, however, he passed the answer off lightly in a conversational manner.
"I don't know much about music myself," he said easily, "it seems such a complicated affair--are you fond of it?"