What made him?" and she looked
up wistfully in Richard's face. "YOU are crying, too!" she
exclaimed. "Everybody cries where I am. Why do they? I wish they
wouldn't. I'm good to-day--there, please don't, Mr. Big-man, THAT
DID DO IT,"? and raising her waxen hand she brushed away the tear
trembling on Richard's long eyelashes.
Edith now sought to divert her by asking if she were fond of
music, and would like to hear her play,
"Nina'll play," returned the little maiden, and going to the piano
she dashed off a wild, impassioned, mixed-up impromptu, resembling
now the soft notes of the lute or the plaintive sob of the winter
wind, and then swelling into a full, rich, harmonious melody,
which made the blood chill in Edith's veins, and caused both
Richard and Arthur to hold their breath.
This music ceased, and rising from the stool Nina expressed a
desire to go home, insisting that Edith should go with her and
stay all night.
"I want to sleep with my arms around your neck just like you used
to do," she said; and when Arthur, too, joined in the request,
Edith answered that she would if Richard were willing.
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