"But I do; I wish it," Guy replied in that tone which people generally

obeyed; and casting a half-frightened look at the sea of faces around

her, Maddy suffered him to lead her to the piano, sitting quite still

while he found what he wished her to play.

It was his favorite song, and one which brought out Maddy's voice in

its various modulations.

"Oh, please, Mr. Remington, anything but a song. I cannot sing," Maddy

whispered pleadingly; but Guy answered resolutely, "You can."

There was no appeal after this, but a resigned, obedient look, which

made the doctor gnash his teeth as he leaned upon the instrument. What

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right had Guy to command Maddy Clyde, and why should she obey? and

yet, as the doctor glanced at Guy, he felt that were he in Maddy's

place, he should do the same.

"No girl can resist Guy Remington," he thought. "I'm glad there's a

Lucy Atherstone over the sea." And with a smile of encouragement for

Maddy, who was pale with nervous timidity, he listened while her

sweet, birdlike voice trembled for a moment with fear; and then,

gaining from its own sound, filled the room with melody, and made

those who had wandered off to other parts of the building hasten back

to see who was singing.

Maria Cutler had presided at the piano earlier in the evening, as had

one or two other young ladies, but to none of these had Guy paid half

the attention he did to Maddy, staying constantly by her, holding her

fan, turning the leaves of music, and dictating what she should play.

"There's devotion," tittered a miss in long ringlets; "but she really

does play well," and she appealed to Maria Cutler, who answered, "Yes,

she keeps good time, and I should think might play for a dance. I mean

to ask her," and going up to Guy she said, "I wish to speak to--to--

well, Jessie's governess. Introduce me, please."

Guy waited till Maddy was through, and then gave the desired

introduction. In a tone not wholly free from superciliousness, Miss

Cutler said: "Can you play a waltz or polka, Miss Clyde? We are aching to exercise

our feet."

Maddy bowed and struck into a spirited waltz, which set many of the

people present to whirling in circles, and produced the result which

Maria so much desired, viz: it drove Guy away from the piano, for he

could not mistake her evident wish to have him as a partner, and with

his arm around her waist he was soon moving rapidly from that part of

the room, leaving only the doctor to watch Maddy's fingers as they

flew over the keys. Maddy never thought of being tired. She enjoyed

the excitement, and was glad she could do something toward

entertaining Guy's guests. But Guy did not forget her for an instant.

Through all the mazes of the giddy dance, he had her before his eye,

seeing not the clouds of lace and muslin encircled by his arm, but the

little figure in blue sitting so patiently at the piano until he knew

she must be tired, and determined to release her. As it chanced, Maria

was again his partner, and drawing her nearer to Maddy, he said, "Your

fingers ache by this time, I am sure. It is wrong to trouble you

longer. Agnes will take your place while you try a quadrille with me."