The storekeeper was very cordial and
made no further allusion to the pass. In the course of conversation he
managed to make some reference to Desire's piano, and the curiosity
the people seemed to feel about the novel instrument. He asked Perez
if he had ever seen it, and Perez saying no, invited him to drop in
that evening and hear Desire play a little. It is needless to say that
the young man's surprise at the invitation did not prevent his
accepting it. It would have melted the heart of his worst enemy to
have seen how long he toiled that afternoon trying to refurbish his
threadbare coat so white in the seams, and the rueful face with which
he contemplated the result. On presenting himself at the store soon
after dusk, Edwards at once ushered him into the parlor, and withdrew,
saying that he must see to his business.
Desire sat at the piano, no one else being in the room. She looked
rather pallid and thinner than when he had seen her last, but all the
more interesting for this delicacy. There was, however, a far more
striking alteration in her manner, for to his surprise she rose at his
entrance, and came forward with a smile to greet him. He was
delightfully bewildered.
Pages:
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333