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That while her fingers touch the harp Wafting sweet music o'er

the lea, It is for thee thus swells her heart, Sighing its

message out to thee...

A day or two, then bliss unspoilt, But oh! till then I cannot

live!...

He had not finished the last verse before the young people began

to get ready to dance in the large hall, and the sound of the

feet and the coughing of the musicians were heard from the

gallery.

Pierre was sitting in the drawing room where Shinshin had engaged

him, as a man recently returned from abroad, in a political

conversation in which several others joined but which bored

Pierre. When the music began Natasha came in and walking straight

up to Pierre said, laughing and blushing:

"Mamma told me to ask you to join the dancers."

"I am afraid of mixing the figures," Pierre replied; "but if you

will be my teacher..." And lowering his big arm he offered it to

the slender little girl.