Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/31

 from that in which a fairly educated contemporary of Cicero would find himself while listening to, and trying to follow, a bright Vassar girl's explanation of the purpose and working of an improved telegraph instrument or photographic camera.

Some such ideas were passing through my mind; but, after all, they constituted only the sub-current of thought. My attention was mainly occupied in following the changes of expression on a lovely face, in listening to the varying tones of a melodious voice. As I said before, the face had, for some reason quite apart from its beauty, exercised a mysterious attraction on me, even before the owner began to speak. The sound of her voice completed the charm, producing in me a state of feeling in which predominated a sort of puzzled bewilderment. Why did that face at one moment vividly recall the expression of some one whose name ought to be familiar, yet could not be recalled? Suddenly, again, as in a flash, the expression would change to one quite different, though equally familiar. How was it that certain intonations of that voice seemed to waken some slumbering chords of memory, disconnected, however, and strangely baffling; as when, from some stray notes floating in the memory, we vainly endeavor to complete the melody of which they formed a part?

These pre-occupations so filled my mind, that I gave heed neither to our starting nor to our mode of progression. The account must, accordingly, be filled from my subsequent observations. First, the car began to move slowly along the siding, till, just as a train of cars had passed on the inner track, our car glided out on that same track, and,