for her; her echoing tones died away, and rose again with gentler
pathos, softly, and with sweeter tone, to fall again.

Unconsciously her eyes were fixed upon the Signor as he spoke, and her
thoughts were carried back, far away; she knew not whither they would
take her, but rousing from her reverie, she merely replied,--"I love the
peculiar air of your nation, it presents such a striking contrast to our
cold, less pathetic style; but do not exclude what Winnie terms 'the
productions of the genii's more sensible moments' from my list of
favorites, for, as there are hours which are divided into sixty distinct
parts, so there are divisions within the human heart, which must live
each upon its own native air."

"Natalie, darling, what were you talking with the Signor about? From the
few words which I caught, of the human heart, etc., I did not know but
the presence of a third person might be agreeably dispensed with;" and
it was overtaxing the fringed lids of the mischievous Winnie's eyes, in
adding to their duties the office of sentinel.

"Ah, you rogue; have your critic's ears been listening to my feeble
endeavors to repay the Signor for his untiring labors?"

"One can hear your music without listening, for I was deep in thought of
the time when I shall come out from under the tyrannical power of
instructors, and can do as I like; for my part, I am tired to death of
this continual,--'Miss Winifred, this piece must be executed with milder
intonations;' or, 'Miss Winifred, that chapter of Spanish must be told
with greater fluency.' I have come to dread the very name of Professor,
and I never can look out of the window but I see some pale-faced
gentleman of the profession approaching, with his badge under his arm;