After All.

reluctance she chose a passionate song of Shelley ' s , set to music b y Humberton at her request . Now , for the first time , was all attention given to the music , and when she sang the following words , in a clear , sympathetic voice , all were thrilled with deli ght at the charming song so exquisitel y rendered and accompanied : —

I pant for the music which is divine , My heart in its fchh-st is a dying flower , Pour forth the sound like enchanted wine , Loosen the notes in a silver shower ; Like a herbless plain for the gentle rain , I gasp , I faint , till they wake again . This was so in harmony with her aesthetic profession that they were all

hi g hly pleased with it , and they breathlessly waited for the next verse , which was g iven almost with more feeling than the first . Now had they discovered that a 3 stheticism reall y did exist in their midst , and was no myth , and they were all ready to become votaries to the fascinating goddess of the art , who sang in the purest tones : —

Let me drink of the spirit of that sweet sound , More , 0 more—I am thirsty yet , It loosens the serpent which care has bound Upon my heart , to stifle it ; The dissolving strain , through every vein , Passes into my heart and brain .

After this verse a perfect ovation was given to the singer and composer , and Humberton had repeatedl y to thank them on his own and Miss Belsize ' s behalf . She had indeed made a favourable debtit at a critically appreciative meeting , and won the admiration of Humberton for her accomplishments . He was profuse in his thanks to her for the excellent service she had done him b y so poeticall y —so feelingly interpreting the poet and musician .

" How can I thank you for your kindness in so exquisitel y rendering my poor setting of Shelley ' s divine words ! " he had said ; and she , gratefully but coyly , had replied , " By becoming more devoted to the aesthetic principles of Art ; " and the earnest , ready reply had been , " I will try , Miss Belsize . " " Do you not think— -it is almost impertinent of me to ask you—but could you not write , say , a real { esthetic opera , after the style of Messrs . Gilbert and

Sullivan ? " she naivel y asked . "You overrate my powers , " he modestl y replied . "Not at all ; I ' m sure you could do it if y ou would , and I should be g lad to assist y ou m my little way , " she said , merrily . ' Well , if you will promise to help me , I will seriousl y think of it ; and it is really a good idea , which I think would work well with treatment

proper . Thank you very much , " he said , chivalrously . " Then you won't forget , " urged Miss Belsize , smilingly . " Certainly not ; I will think of some plan at once . " That night the volatile Miss Louisa Delcote was satisfied that her clever ffisfchetio friend , Miss Phillis Belsize , had made a very palpable hit , and she was a little jealous in her heart of hearts that her affected sestheticism should have

been so successful in winning the admiration of one sex and the envy of the other . ( To be continued . )