Clara Hopgood

The evening came, he sang with Cecilia, and it was observed, and he

himself observed it, how completely their voices harmonised. He was

not without a competitor, a handsome young baritone, who was much

commended. When he came to the end of his performance everybody said

what a pity it was that the following duet could not also be given, a

duet which Cecilia knew perfectly well. She was very much pressed to

take her part with him, but she steadily refused, on the ground that

she had not practised it, that she had already sung once, and that

she was engaged to sing once more with her cousin. Frank was sitting

next to her, and she added, so as to be heard by him alone, 'He is no

particular favourite of mine.'

There was no direct implication that Frank was a favourite, but an

inference was possible, and at least it was clear that she preferred

to reserve herself for him. Cecilia's gifts, her fortune, and her

gay, happy face had made many a young fellow restless, and had

brought several proposals, none of which had been accepted. All this

Frank knew, and how could he repress something more than satisfaction

when he thought that perhaps he might have been the reason why nobody

as yet had been able to win her. She always called him Frank, for

although they were not first cousins, they were cousins. He

generally called her Cecilia, but she was Cissy in her own house. He

was hardly close enough to venture upon the more familiar nickname,

but to-night, as they rose to go to the piano, he said, and the

baritone sat next to her, 'Now, CISSY, once more.' She looked at him with just a little start of surprise, and a smile

spread itself over her face. After they had finished, and she never

sang better, the baritone noticed that she seemed indisposed to

return to her former place, and she retired with Frank to the

opposite corner of the room.

'I wonder,' she said, 'if being happy in a thing is a sign of being

born to do it. If it is, I am born to be a musician.'

'I should say it is; if two people are quite happy in one another's

company, it is as a sign they were born for one another.'

'Yes, if they are sure they are happy. It is easier for me to be

sure that I am happier with a thing than with a person.'

'Do you think so? Why?'

'There is the uncertainty whether the person is happy with me. I

cannot be altogether happy with anybody unless I know I make him

happy.'