On his knees at the Canterbury drawer he found the score of _Faust_ bent open at the 'Jewel Song.' He held it up eagerly. 'Let me hear you in this,' he said. 'You sing it?' Dot nodded joyously and opened it on the music holder as he took his seat. She gave a little cough to clear her throat. He stood up, real concern on his face, and closed the book instantly. 'There is _nothing_ so culpable as over-tiring the voice; it was criminal of me to let you sing so much,' he said. There was a warm flush on her cheeks and her eyes were brilliant. 'Let us have some tea then,' she said, with an excited little laugh. She crossed the room and rang the bell at the fireplace. Quite a professional look was on his face. 'I do trust you take proper care of your voice, Miss Armitage,' was his really anxious remark. Dot's eyes flew open, then she laughed aloud just as Peggie appeared in the doorway. 'Tea, please, Peggie, and baby--baby first,' was her order. Peggie departed, surprised displeasure on her face: she wondered who was the strange gentleman her mistress was on such good terms with, and she thought it most inconsiderate that she should want afternoon tea when there was so much ironing on hand. But she slipped a fresh muslin pinafore on the baby and put on his best little red shoes, before she carried him in to them all warm and flushed with his afternoon sleep. 'I believe you thought I was only a girl, Mr Wooster,' Dot said with a merry laugh as she stood up with her beautiful darling in her arms for inspection. Mr Sullivan Wooster was certainly looking as thunderstruck as if the pretty bundle of muslin, and lace and sweetness she held had been a phoenix instead of the dearest little baby in the world. 'I never dreamt,' he began. 'I quite thought--I certainly imagined Mrs Ingram said _Miss_ Armitage; as well--,' his eyes sought her little bare left hand. Dot laughed that happy little laugh of hers again. She went over to the Canterbury and emptied a small Dresden cup upon her palm. 'I always take my rings off before I play,' she said, 'it's a pernicious habit, I know; my husband is always trying to break me of it, but I really do it unconsciously. I never can play properly with them on.' After that, of course, he paid dutiful, expected court to the baby, and made the correct remarks about its eyes and long eyelashes and the quantity of its hair. But he no longer thought the occurrence an enchanted dream that might fade any minute. The baby gnawing thoughtfully at its dear little shoe as it sat on the hearthrug, while Dot poured out tea, gave a surprising air of reality to everything.