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.'