‘How strange that a woman could bring herself to write those verses!’

‘Not at all strange—­they are natural outpourings.’

Faith looked critically at the remoter caverns of the fire.

‘Why strange?’ continued Christopher.  ‘There is no harm in them.’

’O no—­no harm.  But I cannot explain to you—­unless you see it partly of your own accord—­that to write them she must be rather a fast lady—­not a bad fast lady; a nice fast lady, I mean, of course.  There, I have said it now, and I daresay you are vexed with me, for your interest in her has deepened to what it originally was, I think.  I don’t mean any absolute harm by “fast,” Kit.’

‘Bold, forward, you mean, I suppose?’

Faith tried to hit upon a better definition which should meet all views; and, on failing to do so, looked concerned at her brother’s somewhat grieved appearance, and said, helplessly, ‘Yes, I suppose I do.’

’My idea of her is quite the reverse.  A poetess must intrinsically be sensitive, or she could never feel:  but then, frankness is a rhetorical necessity even with the most modest, if their inspirations are to do any good in the world.  You will, for certain, not be interested in something I was going to tell you, which I thought would have pleased you immensely; but it is not worth mentioning now.’

’If you will not tell me, never mind.  But don’t be crabbed, Kit!  You know how interested I am in all your affairs.’

’It is only that I have composed an air to one of the prettiest of her songs, “When tapers tall”—­but I am not sure about the power of it.  This is how it begins—­I threw it off in a few minutes, after you had gone to bed.’

He went to the piano and lightly touched over an air, the manuscript copy of which he placed in front of him, and listened to hear her opinion, having proved its value frequently; for it was not that of a woman merely, but impersonally human.  Though she was unknown to fame, this was a great gift in Faith, since to have an unsexed judgment is as precious as to be an unsexed being is deplorable.

‘It is very fair indeed,’ said the sister, scarcely moving her lips in her great attention.  ’Now again, and again, and again.  How could you do it in the time!’

Kit knew that she admired his performance:  passive assent was her usual praise, and she seldom insisted vigorously upon any view of his compositions unless for purposes of emendation.

’I was thinking that, as I cannot very well write to her, I may as well send her this,’ said Christopher, with lightened spirits, voice to correspond, and eyes likewise; ’there can be no objection to it, for such things are done continually.  Consider while I am gone, Faith.  I shall be out this evening for an hour or two.’