However, they both reached the lower hall in safety, where Bessie led her charge to the parlor-door. "Mamma," she said, "Willie likes music very much. I suppose you would just as lief he would listen to you and Aunt Bessie."
"Certainly," said mamma. "Bring him in."
But before they went in, Willie paused and turned to Bessie.
"Who was that on the stairs?" he asked in a whisper.
"Oh! that was only Aunt Patty," answered the little girl. "You need not be afraid of her. She don't mean to be so cross as she is; but she is old, and had a great deal of trouble, and not very wise people to teach her better when she was little. So she can't help it sometimes."
"No," said Willie, slowly, as if he were trying to recollect something, "I am not afraid; but then I thought I had heard that voice before."
"Oh, I guess not," said Bessie; and then she took him in and seated him in her own little arm-chair, close to the piano.
No one who had noticed the way in which the blind boy listened to the music, or seen the look of perfect enjoyment on his pale, patient face, could have doubted his love for the sweet sounds. While Mrs. Bradford and Miss Rush played or sang, he sat motionless, not moving a finger, hardly seeming to breathe, lest he should lose one note.
"So you are very fond of music; are you, Willie?" said Mrs. Bradford, when at length they paused.