That evening an east wind blowing up with a fine, driving rain, gave an excuse for a fire in the big fireplace. And as they sat around it; Alice on the arm of her mother's chair, Barbara close to her father, a little silent, because Carol Day _had_ beaten her; Peggy and Keineth on the floor side by side, and Billy and his dog sprawled near the door, Mrs. Lee told the children the story of the little boy who went each day to his attic room to play on the old piano there; how one day, the sound of the music reaching the ears of people below, they crept one by one to the dark stairway to listen. Then in wonder they brought others and even more. These foolish folk thought it was a spirit who came to the attic room and made the music, but finally one of them crept closer and opened the door and found the little boy! "I know, Mother," cried Barbara, "it was Mozart!" "Yes, it was Mozart, who, when he grew older, made music that will last as long as this world. Keineth, will you play for us, dear?" Keineth, with a very red face, walked bravely to the piano. But her heart was happy and her fingers tingled with the music she felt. With the firelight dancing across the darkened room it seemed like the old library at home and as if Daddy must be sitting close to her with Madame Henri nodding in her chair near the window! They were silent when she had finished. Barbara sighed-as though the music had made her sad; Billy said something under his breath that sounded like "Gee!" and Mrs. Lee patted Peggy's hand. She had found time for a little talk with Peggy about Keineth. "Oh, I think you're wonderful!" Peggy cried now to Keineth, running to her and linking her hand in Keineth's arm. "I wish I could play one bit as well as that----" After the children had gone to bed Mr. and Mrs. Lee sat for a long time in the room lighted only by the flames of the fire. Somehow the music seemed to linger about them. "Isn't this world funny, William--" Mrs. Lee stared into the blaze. "If that child had not lived that funny, lonely life in that big house with no one but the queer governess, that gift of hers might never have developed! I wonder what the future may have in store for her?" "Above all--let us hope--health and happiness!" CHAPTER VII ALICE RUNS AWAY "I've got something to show you all," Billy announced at the luncheon table. He wore the satisfied air of one who has accomplished something long desired. "What've you got?" Peggy answered promptly. "Guess!" Billy fixed his attention upon his plate in a tantalizing way. "Oh, I know--it's a new sending set! I guessed first!" "You didn't guess, either! I'll bet you saw Joe Gary bring it!" "What is a sending set?" asked Keineth. "I'll show you afterwards," Billy answered, with a kindness meant to crush Peggy. Mr. Lee broke in: "But I thought you had to save three dollars more before you could buy one--"