Page 336 (1/2)

"You're right," said the duke emphatically "It's the best of all lives

If we all lived on our estates and looked after our people, we should

hear very little of socialism, and such like troubles It's the

absenteeism which is answerable for most of the mischief"

They discussed county affairs, "horses, hounds, and the land," for soo to Nell, asked the ative, rose, and ; Dick of course, was turning over her music

There was a little hushed buzz of conversation which is not too loud to

pers are going

well Drake went to Nell and leaned over the tall back of her chair

without a word When the song was finished, the countess went up to

Falconer and asked hiht the precious violin,

and Nell went to the piano and struck up the piece which they had

chosen Conversation ceased, and every one prepared to listen with eager

anticipation

Falconer may have played as well in his life, but he certainly never

played better One could have heard a pin drop during the softer notes

of the exquisite music, so intense and almost breathless was the silence