Page:The Yellow Book - 07.djvu/175

 and a cloud of dark wavy hair. She glanced up at Margrave with a smile of thanks, as he turned over a leaf for her, and when the song was ended he kept his place at her side. She did not move from the piano, but began to look over a pile of music as though searching for something.

There was a short silence.

"Cecily is lovelier than ever to-night," she observed, abruptly.

Margrave smiled and glanced in the direction she was looking.

"Yes," he assented. "That Greek dress of hers is quite an inspiration."

The girl—her name was Gretchen Verrol—bent to pick up a stray leaf before she replied. "Thank you; don't trouble," she said; then, "You are praising me unawares," she added.

"You designed it then?"

"And more, I made it, with these my proper hands," with a little gesture.

"I honour you equally for your inventive and creative faculties," he returned laughingly.

After a moment, with a sudden change of tone, "Cecily is very fortunate in having you with her," he said. "You read with her, I think? She is very young," and then he hesitated a little, "I have seen so little of her, and scarcely ever alone, but I fancy she needs" he paused.

"She is beautiful enough to need nothing besides," Gretchen interrupted hastily. "Why don't you go and talk to her now? She is by herself, and I'm not her governess quite, Mr. Margrave," she added.

A young man came up to the piano at the moment, and she held out a piece of music to him. "Here is a song I know you sing, Mr. Graham! Shall I play it for you?" she asked almost in the same breath.

Margrave