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Rh Delemia was not playing, however, bub reclining on a couch, with a book in her hand.

Yondozi went and spoke a few words to her, whereupon she advanced to a stringed instrument resembling a piano, only much larger, and played several tunes, all of which were foreign to me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the music, and felt that Yondozi was right in his opinion. She sang a song, only one, but I shall never forget it—never forget the sweetness of that apparently sad voice. It dwells in my memory like a soft yet brilliant star, whose halo shall neither be extinguished nor dimmed by time. After she had ended, she sat still for a while, but no one asked her to sing another, and all were silent.

Seeing this, I thought it only right that I should act the gallant, so I led her back to her former seat, then joining Yondozi, we descended to the lower deck, for I was anxious to have a smoke. We went astern, and having filled and lit my pipe, addressed my friend.

"Come now, old boy," I said (he was nearly twice as old as myself), "did not that singing set you thinking about changing your views on matrimony? Picture to yourself how charming it would be to have the possessor of that voice with you in