He holds a porcelain plate with a peach upon it, and a silver fruit-knife in his hand. She smiles, as if the music had melted into a look. Then she hears it again:
“Here is the sunniest side of the sunniest peach for Miss Plumer.”
Sligo Moultrie can not help hearing, for the tone is not low. But, while he is expecting to catch the reply, Miss Magot, who sits beyond him, speaks to him. The Prince Abel, who sees many things, sees this; and, in a tone which is very low, Miss Plumer hears, and nobody else in the room hears:
“May life always be that side of a sweet fruit to her!”
It is the tone and not the words which are eloquent.
The next instant Sligo Moultrie, who has answered Miss Magot’s question, hears Miss Plumer say:
“Thank you, with all my heart.”
It seems to him a warm acknowledgment for a piece of fruit.
“I did not speak of the bird; I spoke of the cage,” are the words that Miss Plumer next hears, and from the other side.
She turns to Sligo Moultrie and says, with eyes that expect a reply,