"
"Behold us then, Miss Lovel, passioning--" said the Navy.
"And--haw--languishing, Miss Lovel--" sighed the Army.
"Behold us then unanimously beseeching you--aha, here comes Pevensey
to add his supplication to ours."
The Duke shot his ruffle, fixed his eyeglass and bowed.
"Permit me, Miss Lovel, to add my petition! Vereker will spare you to
us awhile, I am sure!" said he. "To behold a goddess is to be blessed;
to hear her sing will be--"
"Joy!" suggested the Navy.
"Divine!" sighed the Army.
"Transcendent rapture!" quoth the Duke.
Diana laughed and rose, looking from one to other with that serene and
level gaze I knew so well, and saluted them with a slow and graceful
curtsey.
"Indeed you overwhelm me, sirs," said she, smiling. "Your impatience
shall be satisfied, you shall passion and languish no longer!" And now
as I bowed above her hand came her whisper, "I go to sing for you--to
you, Peregrine!"
Then, giving her fan to Navy and her gloves to Army, she took the
Duke's arm, and moved away.
And in a while, sitting in a corner of the great ballroom between my
two uncles, I saw her stand before this august assemblage serene in
her proud, young beauty; saw her calm gaze seek until it met mine and
drew my breath a little quicker because of her very loveliness.
Then I felt the smart of sudden tears as from the orchestra whispered
a loved and familiar melody that rose, little by little, into that
wild and plaintive Zingari air she had sung so often in the Silent
Places years ago.
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