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ng so late。 Richard was interrupting him with enthusiastic outbursts over the new score which still lay under the wax candles lighting the piano； and which he and Nathan； while waiting for the musician； had been silently practising in sundry bobs of their heads and rhythmic beatings of their hands。
〃My dear Max；〃 Richard continued； with a hand on the musician's shoulder； patting him in appreciation as he spoke； 〃we will forgive you anything。 You have so exactly suited to the 'cello the opening theme。 And the flute passages！they are exquisitely introduced。 We will let Miss Clendenning decide when she hears it〃 and he turned Unger's head in the direction of the advancing lady。 〃Here she comes now； you； of course； know the fine quality of Miss Clendenning's ear。〃
Herr Unger placed his five fat fingers over his waist…baud； bowed as low to Miss Lavinia as his great girth would permit； and said：
〃Ah； yes； I know。 Miss Clendenning not only haf de ear she haf de life in de end of de finger。 De piano make de sound like de bird when she touch it。〃
The little lady thanked him in her sweetest voice； made a courtesy； and extended her hand to Max； who kissed it with much solemnity； and Richard； putting his arm around the 'cellist's fat shoulders； conducted him across the room； whereupon Nathan； with the assumed air of an old beau； offered his crooked elbow to Miss Clendenning as an apology for having reached the house before her。 Then； seating her at the piano with a great flourish； he waved his hand to Oliver； who had drawn up a chair beside his mother； and with a laugh； cried：
〃Here； you young love； come and turn the leaves for Miss Lavinia。 It may keep you from running over other people in the dark； even if they are accused of hiding behind sun…dials。〃
With the beginning of the overture Mrs。 Horn laid down her work； and drawing her white gossamer shawl about her shoulders gave herself up to the enjoyment of the music。 The overture was one of her favoritesone she and Richard had often played together as a duet in their younger days。
Leaning back in her easy…chair with half…closed eyes； her clear…cut features in silhouette against the glow of the fire； her soft gray curls nestling in the filmy lace that fell about her temples； she expressed； in every line of her face and figure； that air of graceful repose which only comes to those highly favored women who have all their lives been nurtured in a home of loving hands； tender voices； and noiseless servantslives of never…ending affection without care or sorrow。
And yet had you； even as she sat there； studied carefully this central figure of the Horn mansion this practical； outspoken； gentle…voiced； tender wife and mother； tenacious of her opinions； yet big enough and courageous enough to acknowledge her mistakes； this woman； wise in counsel； sympathetic in sorrow； joyous with the young； restful with the old； you would have discovered certain lines about her white forehead which advancing years alone could not have accounted for。
These lines seemed all the deeper to…night。 Only a few hours before； Richard had come to her； while Malachi was arranging his clothes； with the joyful news of a new device which he had developed during the day for his motor。 He could hardly wait to tell her； he had said。 The news was anything but joyful to her。 She knew what it meantshe knew what sums had been wasted on the other devices； involving losses which at this time they could so little afford。 She was glad； therefore； to free her mind for the moment from these anxieties； glad to sit alone and drink in the melodies that the quartette set free。
As she sat listening； beating time noiselessly with her thin； upraised hand； her head resting quietly； a clear； silvery noteclear as a bird'sleaped from Nathan's flute； soared higher and higher； trembled like a lark poised in air； and died away in tones of such exquisite sweetness that she turned her head in delight toward the group about the piano； fixing her gaze on Nathan。 The old man's eyes were riveted on the score； his figure bent forward in the intensity of his absorption； his whole face illumined with the ecstasy that possessed him。 Then she looked at Richard； standing。 with his back to her； his violin tucked under his chin； his body swaying in rhythm with the music。 Unger sat next to him； his instrument between his knees； his stolid； shiny face unruffled by the glorious harmonies of Beethoven。
Then her glance rested on Oliver。 He was hanging over the piano whispering in Miss Clendenning's。 ear； his face breaking into smiles at her playful chidings。 If the pathos of the melody had reached him he showed no sign of its effects。
Instantly there welled up in her heart a sudden gush of tendernessone of those quick outbursts that often overwhelm a mother when her eyes rest on a son whose heart is her ownan outburst all the more intensified by the melody that thrilled her。 Why should her heart have been troubled？ Here was her strong hope！ Here was her chief reliance！ Here the hope of the future。 How could she doubt or suffer when this promise of the coming day was before her in all the beauty and strength of his young manhood。
With the echoes of Nathan's flute still vibrating in her； and with her mind filled with the delight of these fresh hopes； she suddenly recalled the anxious look on her boy's face as he led Miss Clendenning into the librarya new lookone she had never seen before。 Still under the quickening spell of the music she began to exaggerate its cause。 What had troubled him？ Why had he told Lavinia； and not her？ Was there anything serious？something he had kept from her to save her pain？
From this moment her mind became absorbed in her boy。 With restless； impatient fingers she began thrumming on the arm of her chair。 Oliver would tell her； she knew； before many hours； but she could not waitshe wanted to know at once。
With the ending of the first part of the overture； and before the two gentlemen had laid down their instruments to grasp Unger's hands； she called to Miss Clendenning； who sat at the piano alone； Oliver having slipped away unobserved。
Miss Clendenning raised her eyes in answer。 〃Come over and sit by me； dear； while the gentlemen rest。〃
Miss Clendenning picked up her white silk mits and fan lying beside the candles； and moved toward the fireplace。 Malachi saw her cominghe was always in the room during the interludesand with an alacrity common to him when the distinguished little lady was present； drew up a low chair beside his mistress and stood behind it until she took her seat。 Miss Clendenning smoothed out her skirt and settled herself with the movement of a pigeon filling her nest。 Then she laid her mits in her lap and fanned herself softly。
〃Well； Sallie； what is it？ Did you ever hear Nathan play so well！〃 she asked； at last。
〃What did Oliver want； my dear？〃 replied Mrs。 Horn； ignoring her question。 〃Is there anything worrying him； or is Sue at the bottom of it！〃
The little woman smiled quizzically。 〃No； Sallie not Suenot this time。 That little rattle…brain's affections will only last the week out。 Nothing very importantthat is； nothing urgent。 We were talking about the Tilghman portraits and the Lely that Cousin John has brought into town from Claymore Manor； and what people should and should not do to earn their living； and what professions were respectable。 I thought one thing and Ollie thought another。 Now； what profession of all others would you choose for a young man starting out in life？〃
〃What has he been telling you； Lavinia？ Does he want to leave Judge Ellicott's office？〃 Mrs。 Horn asked； quietly； She always went straight to the root of any matter。
〃Just answer my question； Sallie。〃
〃I'd rather he'd be a lawyer； of course； why？〃
〃Suppose he won't； or can't？〃
〃Is that what he told you； Lavinia； on the sofa？〃 She was leaning forward； her cheek on her hand； her eyes fixed on the blazing logs。
〃He told me a great many things； half of them boy's talk。 Now answer my question； suppose he couldn't study law because his heart wasn't in it； what then？〃
〃I know； Lavinia； what you mean。〃 There was an anxious tone now in the mother's voice。 〃And Oliver talked to you about this？〃 As she spoke she settled back in her chair and a slight sigh escaped her。
〃Don't ask me； Sallie； for I'm not going to tell you。 I want to know for myself what you think； so that I can help the boy。〃
Mrs。 Horn turned her head and looked toward Richard。 She had suspected as much from some hints that Judge Ellicott had dropped when she had asked him about Oliver's progress。 〃He is still holding down his chair； Madam。〃 She thought at the time that it was one of the Judge's witticisms； but she saw now that it had a deeper meaning。 After some moments she said； fixing her eyes on Miss Clendenning：
〃Well； now； Lavinia； tell me what YOU think。 I should like your opinion。 What would you wish to do with him if he were your son？〃
Miss Lavinia smiled and her eyes half…closed。 For a brief moment there came to her the picture of what such a blessing would have been。 Her son！ No！ It was always somebody else's son or daughter to whom her sympathy must go。
〃Well； Sallie；〃 she answeredshe w