Here, then, were three young people kept in contact by the evident attraction of both men for the same girl, and by the diplomatic encouragement which the latter seemed to give to each in equal proportion.  Had Violet not been in question, Murray would have given the cold shoulder to Aston; but as Violet tolerated Aston, he perforce must put up with him.  Aston, on his part, admired and feared Murray, whom he regarded as a formidable rival.

“What puzzles me about Murray,” he exclaimed once to a boon companion, “is his jolly good English!  Why, the chap has positively no kind of provincial accent!” (Cuthbert’s English, by the way, was not regarded by his intimates as the perfect thing!) “He doesn’t speak like a Scotch Johnny at all!  You never hear an ‘Aye, aye’ or ’d’ye ken?’—­not a broad vowel even!  Why, he might have lived all his life this side the border, to judge by his tongue, confound him!”

There could be no doubt of Cuthbert’s attachment to Violet.  No remonstrances of his mother—­and they were but mild, in spite of her objection to Violet, since she recognized the futility of opposing her son’s determined will—­had the slightest effect with him.  He felt confident in the final acquiescence of both parents in whatever he might choose to do with regard to marriage.  Everything, as he saw, rested with Violet, and he was shrewd enough to appreciate the advantages—­not so much personal as social—­involved in her ultimate decision.

An amateur operatic company had been started in the town, and all the musical talent among the younger generation had been stirred up to take part in what was regarded as a pleasant occupation for winter evenings with the pleasurable anticipation of the excitement of a public performance as the outcome of practices.  Our human triangle formed part of the company.  All three were musical, and two of them more than usually talented both in singing and acting—­Violet and Bernard.  The former especially—­endowed with a beautiful soprano voice, which had been well cultivated, added to what is styled by the initiated “a good stage presence”—­was much in request on all such occasions.  She had filled more than one title-role in popular operas presented by their little company, and no one would dream of casting her for any other than the leading part.  Bernard had a good tenor voice, and Cuthbert a very fair bass.

It happened that the particular opera chosen for presentation during the Easter holidays was to be performed by a capable traveling company in a neighboring town a month or so before.  Consequently our amateurs felt it their duty to witness the performance, and thus pick up some valuable hints for future use by such a mild form of “under-study.”  Not only our three friends, but two others of the company—­the second soprano and the contralto—­started on their short railway journey on a certain evening in March, intending to return by the last train.