During the whole day after this arrival, and even the following one, Hester was unpleasantly conscious that because Annot Drummond absorbed Roland so entirely, he had scarcely an opportunity of addressing herself alone, and still less of referring--beyond a glance and a hand pressure or so forth--to that evening, on the last minutes of which so much had seemed to hinge. A little music usually closed each evening, and Annot performed, from Chopin and others, various 'fireworks' on the piano, as Roland was wont to term them; while at Hester's little songs, such as that one to the air of the 'Briar Bush,' she openly laughed, declaring they were quite 'too, too!' Her voice was not so trained as Annot's, and was not remarkable for strength or compass, but it was clear and sweet, fresh and true, and she sang with unaffected expression, being well desirous of pleasing her cousin Roland--her lover as she perhaps deemed him now. Annot's song, after Hester had given a little _chanson_ from Beranger--'_Du, du liegst mir im Herzen_,' accompanied--though sung indifferently--with several _[oe]illades_ at Roland, gave her an opportunity to make, what Hester termed, some of her 'wild speeches.' 'A sweet love song, Annot,' said the latter. 'A love song it is--but twaddle, you know,' replied Annot, turning quickly the leaves of her music. 'Twaddle--how?' 'About marrying for love only and not money, Hester. That is an old-fashioned prejudice which is fast dying out, mamma tells me. Thank Heaven I am poor!' she added, with a pretty shrug of her shoulders. 'Why?' asked Hester. 'Because, when poor, one knows one is loved for self alone.' The reply was made in a soft voice to Hester, yet her upward glance was shot at Roland Lindsay, and she began a piece of music that was certainly somewhat confused, while he--sorely puzzled--was kept on duty turning over the leaves. 'Annot, I thought you were a finished performer!' said Hester with some surprise and pique. 'I was taught like other girls at Madame Raffineur's finishing school in Belgium; and I _can_ get through a piece, as it is called, without many stoppages, though I often forget upon what key I am playing, and use the pedals too at haphazard, yet they are beyond my skill; but I find that whatever I play----' 'Even a noise?' suggested Hester. 'Yes, even a noise, while it lasts, puts down all conversation, and when it is over everyone graciously says, "Thanks--so much!" "Do I sing?" is next asked, but I mean to practise so sedulously when I return to London.' 'A bright little twaddler!' thought Hester, with a slight curl of her handsome upper lip. 'You talked of the Row--you ride, I suppose?' said Roland to change the subject. 'I have no horse,' replied Annot. 'No horse! At Earlshaugh I shall get you an excellent mount.'