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162 stringed and wind instruments. Of course I examined them; but as my musical education never got beyond being able to play a few tunes on the concertina, I had to be content to listen to the playing of Alvarez. At first I cannot say that I felt very much interested. However, she had not gone far when I became enraptured. She also sang many songs, mostly of legendary character, and I enjoyed these even more than the music, for I loved to listen to her voice.

During one of the intervals she asked me to sing a song, but at this time I had consigned none of the Neuroomian songs to memory, so I entertained her with a comic in my own language, which of course she did not understand. So the happy hours flew by until Onneyubla and his friends returned, when a large crowd assembled in the great dining-hall, for the meal taken previous to retiring. I again sat beside Alvarez, while Onneyubla, with his cheerful manner and kind face, as usual occupied a seat at the head of the table. The conversation was chiefly upon future gatherings and excursions, and I learned that Alvarez was to be among the number going to Scalascala.

I was glad of this, but more glad to think that I had no rival, for as yet I saw none besides myself