She turned to him, smiling faintly, for the song had moved her also, and he felt that he must speak.
“That is a beautiful song,” he said; “sing it again if you do not mind.”
She made no answer, but once more she sang:
“O let the solid ground
Not fail beneath my feet
Before my life has found
What some have found so sweet;”
and then suddenly broke off.
“Why are you looking at me?” she said. “I can feel you looking at me and it makes me nervous.”
He bent towards her and looked her in the eyes.
“I love you, Ida,” he said, “I love you with all my heart,” and he stopped suddenly.
She turned quite pale, even in that light he could see her pallor, and her hands fell heavily on the keys.
The echo of the crashing notes rolled round the room and slowly died away—but still she said nothing.