She paused, and gradually a blush deepened on her cheek, for with all
her graceful coquetry and gaiety, there was at times a dash of charming
timidity in her manner; so, suddenly becoming abashed, she raised her
mild eyes to those of the Earl, and immediately cast them down again,
for his cheek had flushed in turn, increasing the manly beauty of his
dark features, which the shadow of his blue velvet bonnet, and the
graceful droop of his white ostrich feather, enhanced; and she knew that
his eyes were beaming upon her with the sentiment her performance and
her presence had inspired.
She had read it all in his burning glance, and at the moment she cast
down her eyes, a new sensation of joy and triumph filled her heart. The
experienced Earl was aware that the fair citadel was tottering to its
fall.
"Gentle Anna," said he, in his softest and most dulcet French, "for my
unseasonable interruption I crave pardon, and beg that you will
continue, for every chord of my heart is stirred when you sing."
"There is but one verse more," replied Anna, as she bent her head with a
graceful inclination, and shaking back her long fair tresses,
continued--