Page 216 of 483

"When she had finished, she gave the guitar to Agatha, who at

first declined it. She played a simple air, and her voice

accompanied it in sweet accents, but unlike the wondrous strain

of the stranger. The old man appeared enraptured and said some

words which Agatha endeavoured to explain to Safie, and by which

he appeared to wish to express that she bestowed on him the

greatest delight by her music.

"The days now passed as peaceably as before, with the sole

alteration that joy had taken place of sadness in the

countenances of my friends. Safie was always gay and happy; she

and I improved rapidly in the knowledge of language, so that in

two months I began to comprehend most of the words uttered by my

protectors.