The Human Chord | Page 9

his mouth so as
to extract every shade of sound belonging to it, "this is Mr. Spinrobin
about whom I told you. He is coming, I hope, to help us."
VI
At first Spinrobin was only aware of the keen delight produced in him
by the manner of Skale's uttering her name, for it entered his
consciousness with a murmuring, singing sound that continued on in
his thoughts like a melody. His racing blood carried it to every portion
of his body. He heard her name, not with his ears alone but with his
whole person--a melodious, haunting phrase of music that thrilled him
exquisitely. Next, he knew that she stood close before him, shaking his
hand, and looking straight into his eyes with an expression of the most
complete trust and sympathy imaginable, and that he felt a well-nigh

irresistible desire to draw her yet closer to him and kiss her little
shining face. Thirdly--though the three impressions were as a matter of
fact almost simultaneous--that the huge figure of the clergyman stood
behind them, watching with the utmost intentness and interest, like a
keen and alert detective eager for some betrayal of evidence, inspired,
however, not by mistrust, but by a very zealous sympathy.
He understood that this meeting was of paramount importance in Mr.
Skale's purpose.
"How do you do, Mr. Spinrobin," he heard a soft voice saying, and the
commonplace phrase served to bring him back to a more normal
standard of things. But the tone in which she said it caused him a
second thrill almost more delightful than the first, for the quality was
low and fluty, like the gentle note of some mellow wind instrument,
and the caressing way she pronounced his name was a revelation. Mr.
Skale had known how to make it sound dignified, but this girl did
more--she made it sound alive. "I will give thee a new name" flashed
into his thoughts, as some memory-cell of boyhood discharged its little
burden most opportunely and proceeded to refill itself.
The smile of happiness that broke over Spinrobin's face was certainly
reflected in the eyes that gazed so searchingly into his own, without the
smallest sign of immodesty, yet without the least inclination to drop the
eyelids. The two natures ran out to meet each other as naturally as two
notes of music run to take their places in a chord. This slight, blue-eyed
youth, light of hair and sensitive of spirit, and this slim, dark-skinned
little maiden, with the voice of music and the wide-open grey eyes,
understood one another from the very first instant their atmospheres
touched and mingled; and the big Skale, looking on intently over their
very shoulders, saw that it was good and smiled down upon them, too,
in his turn.
"The harmony of souls and voices is complete," he said, but in so low a
tone that the secretary did not hear it. Then, with a hand on a shoulder
of each, he half pushed them before him into the dining room, his
whole face running, as it were, into a single big smile of contentment.
The important event had turned out to his entire satisfaction. He looked

like some beneficent father, well pleased with his two children.
But Spinrobin, as he moved beside the girl and heard the rustle of her
dress that almost touched him, felt as though he stood upon a sliding
platform that was moving ever quicker, and that the adventure upon
which he was embarked had now acquired a momentum that nothing he
could do would ever stop. And he liked it. It would carry him out of
himself into something very big....
And at dinner, where he sat opposite to the girl and studied her face
closely, Mr. Skale, he was soon aware, was occupied in studying the
two of them even more closely. He appeared always to be listening to
their voices. They spoke little enough, however, only their eyes met
continually, and when they did so there was no evidence of a desire to
withdraw. Their gaze remained fastened on one another, on her part
without shyness, without impudence on his. That Mr. Skale wished for
them an intimate and even affectionate understanding was evident, and
the secretary warmed to him on that account more than ever, if on no
other.
It surprised him too--when he thought of it, which was rarely--that a
girl who was perforce of humble origin could carry herself with an air
of such complete and natural distinction, and prove herself so
absolutely "the lady." For there was something about her of greater
value than any mere earthly rank or class could confer; her spirit was in
its very essence distinguished, perfectly simple, yet strong with a great
and natural pride. It never occurred to