76 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



well set up Englishman, whose mellifluous tones 

 proclaimed him thoroughbred. He spoke of know- 

 ledge, so it was not difficult to guess where he had 

 graduated. 



Our new friends came to dinner on board the Lily 

 after much persuasion. The dainty little lady was so 

 retiring, but we could see the pleasure it gave her to 

 meet white women again. The acoustic properties of 

 the cabin on a sealing schooner are not of the best, 

 so we took to the deck, and our nightingale consented 

 to sing after we had convinced her that we all wanted 

 to hear more of her voice. 



Ralph accompanied her on his violin. First it was 

 Auber's laughing song, then a gay little French ditty, 

 next Saint Saens. 



The more I heard of her voice the more marvellous 

 it seemed to be. So full of infinite variety that she 

 never appeared to produce the same effect twice, so 

 wonderfully tender that she must love royally, so 

 delicate, so grand, so sonorous, so full of pathos, fire, 

 feeling, art, laughter, tears, so thrilling, so moving, 

 I have never heard a voice like it. I would rather 

 hear it than any other living. It started so sweet, and 

 sank, and rose, and swelled, and trembled, and dwelt, 

 and enraptured, and died away, like some beautiful 

 dream. It was a wondrous thing. It was divine. 

 My very heartstrings were vibrating. 



" If you would but go to Europe, you would have 

 no need to raise foxes any more," said Ralph, as soon 

 as he could speak for the witchery of the singer and 

 the song. " The world would be at your feet." 



