There were many flowers, and ladies and children were walking
about beautifully dressed. At last the music began. I had not heard such
music before.
"At first it was slow and even, like the everyday life, when we walk
through it without thought or feeling; then it grew faster, then it paused,
hesitated, then it was quite still for an instant, and then it burst out.
Lyndall, they made heaven right when they made it all music. It takes you
up and carries you away, away, till you have the things you longed for, you
are up close to them. You have got out into a large, free, open place. I
could not see anything while it was playing; I stood with my head against
my tree; but, when it was done, I saw that there were ladies sitting close
to me on a wooden bench, and the stranger who had talked to me that day in
the karoo was sitting between them. The ladies were very pretty, and their
dresses beautiful. I do not think they had been listening to the music,
for they were talking and laughing very softly. I heard all they said, and
could even smell the rose on the breast of one. I was afraid he would see
me; so I went to the other side of the tree, and soon they got up and began
to pace up and down in the avenue.
"All the time the music played they chatted, and he carried on his arm the
scarf of the prettiest lady.
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