“Oh! if that is all! I think you might trust me, mother, to break it down into nice little scraps,” cried Dolff. “It would only waste Ju’s time and keep her back from her--music and other things,” said Gussy, suspicious, though she did not well know why. “Oh, Gussy!--when you know you have always said I never should do anything in music,” cried Julia, who saw prospects of fun and congenial idleness in Dolff’s proposal. Janet had suppressed her laugh, and was very grave over her needlework. It was not for her to interfere. “We’ll think it over,” said Mrs. Harwood; “you don’t always think the same in the morning as in the evening, my dear boy. No doubt it would be for Julia’s advantage, for I don’t think, any more than Gussy, that she will ever do much at her music. I should like to see into it myself first, and whether it wouldn’t interfere with your time, and if you remain in the same mind, and so forth. We’ll think it over, Dolff.” “I never knew that the mother considered herself clever about history before,” said Dolff, with a laugh. “And what’s all this about music? I’ve grown a great dab at music, too. You’ve had the piano open these two nights. Who plays? or sings, is it? Oh! I suppose it’s you, Gussy. Come along and let us hear.” “I seldom sing alone,” said Gussy, with a blush. “Well, come and sing with me. I’m your man. I’ve grown quite a dab at it this term. Anything to make the time pass. I thought it was something new when I saw the piano standing open.” “It is nothing at all new, Dolff. Gussy has always had a very pretty voice. She is shy about it by herself, so she generally sings in duets or concerted pieces. But she has a very pretty voice, hasn’t she, Janet?” “Are you musical, Miss Summerhayes?” “She has a very sweet voice,” said Janet. “It came out beautifully the other night.” “Are you musical, Miss Summerhayes?” Janet paused, believing that some one would answer for her. Then she said. “I play a little occasionally.” “You could rattle over a little accompaniment?” said Dolff. “Oh, it’s not difficult--I could almost do it myself, only one can’t play and sing too.” Again Janet hesitated. She cast a glance round the silent company to know what she was expected to do. But Mrs. Harwood gave no sign, and Gussy was abstracted, listening for the step which did not come--and which was so much more important than all the brothers in the world. “Oh, yes, I think I could rattle over a little accompaniment,” said Janet. “Then come along,” cried Dolff, delighted. “I’ll fetch some of my songs in a moment. They are not Gussy’s sort, and she would not care to play for me, but the mother will like it, won’t you, mother? There’s a chorus with most of them,” said Dolff, pausing half-way to the door. “Perhaps Ju and you could tune up in the chorus? it’s not difficult, and it adds to the effect.” “I think, perhaps, I might tune up in the chorus, if it’s not very difficult.”