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Falconer finished tuning, glanced toward Nell--the gallery was too dian to play a solo

Co after the dance music, the sonata he had chosen was like a breath

of pure, heather-scented air floating in upon the gas-laden atmosphere

of the heated room; and at the first strains of the delicious , and turned their eyes up to the front of

the gallery, where the tall, thin form in its worn velvet jacket stood,

for that ure

Nell, as she listened, felt as if a cool, pitying hand had fallen upon

her aching heart; as if a voice of thrilling sweetness hispering

tender consolation Never loud, but with an insistent force which held

the listeners in thrall, sometimes so low that it was but a murmur, the

exquisitetender , for the short space it held its

sorld-hardened hearts

The tears gathered in Nell's eyes, bringing her infinite relief; but she