All the young people of Isingford were keenly excited about the forthcoming effort which was to extinguish the debt upon the two churches. All were eager to help, and Effie herself had been roused to desire to do something. She had practised with new energy, so as to be able to take part in the concert of local talent, and her song was already selected and placed in the programme. But she did not think anybody showed any enthusiasm over her performance. Perhaps her voice had deteriorated somewhat, though nobody said so. She was listened to quite kindly, and her friends said her song would be certain to “go down”; but that was all. Whereas, over May Lawrence’s performance there was a little furore, and she was entreated to sing twice, and was called quite openly the _prima donna_. Effie had not expected that title for herself, yet she was not quite pleased by the treatment she received. And then Sheila was in such request. Sheila was so popular. It was quickly discovered that, though no very brilliant performer on the piano as a soloist, she had a very pretty gift for accompanying. Her touch was soft and sympathetic; she never played wrong notes, even if she missed the right ones. It became quite the usual thing for the soloists to beg her to play for them, and, as she was delighted to please and very fond of this sort of work, she soon became the acknowledged accompanist of the concert, and a person in great demand. May Lawrence was one of those who had taken a great fancy to her, and this invitation to Monckton Manor, a place Effie had only seen once upon a formal call, was rather galling to her. Sheila started out a little depressed in spirits, for she disliked the feeling that Effie was “cross with her.” She was sensitive, like all young things, to the disapproval of those about her, and thought it very hard to be blamed when she had really done no harm. Sheila was for the first time tasting a little of the discipline of life, and she did not enjoy the experience. She wanted it always to be sunshine about her. She liked to be petted and caressed. She was ready to love everybody, if they would only love her. It seemed to her very hard when she was criticised for something that was not the least wrong. It had never been so in old days, and why should it be now? However, upon her arrival at the Manor House all troubled thoughts were quickly dissipated by the warm reception she met with. May Lawrence met her with a kiss. The two girls fell into Christian names almost at once. The pleasant old semi-Tudor house was delightful to Sheila, reminding her in many ways of her own home. Mrs. Lawrence welcomed her kindly, saying she had heard a great deal about her and her pretty playing, and May took her into the orchard-house and regaled her with delicious peaches before they did a note of practising.