In my absorption I had lost the sense of time, and I

was amazed to find that it was five o'clock, but I resolved

to go into the chapel before going home.

The way up was clear enough, and I was soon in the

vestibule. I opened the door, expecting to find a service

in progress; but the little church was empty save where,

at the right of the chancel, an organist was filling the

church with the notes of a triumphant march. Cap in

hand I stole forward and sank down in one of the

pews.

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A lamp over the organ keyboard gave the only light

in the chapel, and made an aureole about her head,-

about the uncovered head of Olivia Gladys Armstrong!

I smiled as I recognized her and smiled, too, as I remembered

her name. But the joy she brought to the

music, the happiness in her face as she raised it in the

minor harmonies, her isolation, marked by the little isle

of light against the dark background of the choir,-

these things touched and moved me, and I bent forward,

my arms upon the pew in front of me, watching and

listening with a kind of awed wonder. Here was a

refuge of peace and lulling harmony after the disturbed

life at Glenarm, and I yielded myself to its solace with

an inclination my life had rarely known.

There was no pause in the outpouring of the melody.

She changed stops and manuals with swift fingers and

passed from one composition to another; now it was an

august hymn, now a theme from Wagner, and finally

Mendelssohn's Spring Song leaped forth exultant in the

dark chapel.

She ceased suddenly with a little sigh and struck

her hands together, for the place was cold. As she

reached up to put out the lights I stepped forward to

the chancel steps.

"Please allow me to do that for you?"

She turned toward me, gathering a cape about her.

"Oh, it's you, is it?" she asked, looking about quickly.

"I don't remember-I don't seem to remember-that

you were invited."

"I didn't know I was coming myself," I remarked

truthfully, lifting my hand to the lamp.

"That is my opinion of you,-that you're a rather unexpected

person. But thank you, very much."

She showed no disposition to prolong the interview,

but hurried toward the door, and reached the vestibule

before I came up with her.

"You can't go any further, Mr. Glenarm," she said,

and waited as though to make sure I understood.

Straight before us through the wood and beyond the

school-buildings the sunset faded sullenly. The night

was following fast upon the gray twilight and already

the bolder planets were aflame in the sky. The path

led straight ahead beneath the black boughs.

"I might perhaps walk to the dormitory, or whatever

you call it," I said.




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