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The stranger learned about twenty words at the first lesson; most

of them, indeed, were those which I had before understood, but I

profited by the others.

"As night came on, Agatha and the Arabian retired early. When

they separated Felix kissed the hand of the stranger and said,

'Good night sweet Safie.' He sat up much longer, conversing with

his father, and by the frequent repetition of her name I

conjectured that their lovely guest was the subject of their

conversation. I ardently desired to understand them, and bent

every faculty towards that purpose, but found it utterly

impossible.

"The next morning Felix went out to his work, and after the usual

occupations of Agatha were finished, the Arabian sat at the feet

of the old man, and taking his guitar, played some airs so

entrancingly beautiful that they at once drew tears of sorrow and

delight from my eyes. She sang, and her voice flowed in a rich

cadence, swelling or dying away like a nightingale of the woods.