"What are you waiting for, Everard?" Emily inquired, at length. "For Isabel to relent," said Grace, contemptuously. Everard rose, and stood for a moment irresolute; then, going to the piano, set up the music, and, turning to Isabel, said in a tone of deep earnestness: "Will you oblige me by just trying this, Miss Leicester?" Grace's lip curled scornfully, and Isabel reluctantly seated herself at the piano. Having once commenced, she thought of nothing but the beauty of the anthem, and sung with her whole soul--her full, rich voice filling the room with melody. Never had Isabel sung like this since she had left her happy home. When she ceased they all crowded round her, entreating her to take Miss Cleaver's place just this once. "She will--she must!" exclaimed Everard, eagerly. "You will--will you not, Isa-- Miss Leicester?" he asked persuasively. Isabel was silent. "A nice example of obliging manners you are setting your pupils," said Emily, mischievously, at the same time hugging her affectionately. "What makes my pet so naughty to-day?" "I suppose I must," said Isabel, in a tone of annoyance; "I see that I shall have no peace if I don't." "Thanks, Miss Leicester," said Everard, warmly; "I can't tell you how much--how very much--obliged I am." "I should not imagine that such a very ungracious compliance called for such excessive thanks," said Grace, sarcastically. "Don't be ill-natured, Gracie," returned her brother, laughing; "you don't know how glad I am." "But it is so very absurd, Everard, the way you rave about Isabel's singing, any one would suppose that you had never heard good singing." "Nor have I, before, ever heard such singing as Miss Leicester's," he returned. "Oh, indeed, how very complimentary we are to-day!" retorted Grace. "Such singing as Miss Leicester's!" echoed Isabel, with a gesture of contempt which set Emily laughing excessively, while Everard beat a hasty retreat. In the evening Emily and Isabel had their things on, and were chatting and laughing with the children in the school-room, before going down to the church for the practising, when Mrs. Arlington came in, saying, "I am afraid that you will all be disappointed, but Dr. Heathfield strictly prohibits Miss Leicester taking any part in the singing to-morrow." "Oh, Mamma!" exclaimed Emily. "He says that it would be highly dangerous, and that she must not attempt it." "But, Mamma, we cannot have the anthem without her." "I am very sorry, my dear, but it cannot be helped," replied her mother, and having given them the unpleasant tidings to digest as best they might, Mrs. Arlington returned to the drawing-room. "Now is not that too bad? Who in the world told Dr. Heathfield anything about it, I should like to know?" cried Emily, indignantly. "What possessed him to come here to-night, I wonder--tiresome old fellow?" "But if it would really do Isabel harm, I think it was very fortunate he came," said Alice, gravely.