Full consciousness of the difficulties presented by the characters of the two brothers would have been far too oppressive; and perhaps it was better for Averil that she had it not, but had her own engrossing interests and employments drawing off her attention and enlivening her spirits. Her church music was her object in life--the dedication of the talent that had been cultivated at so much time and cost, and the greatest honour and enjoyment she could imagine, and she had full participation from Leonard, who had a hearty love for sacred music, readily threw himself into her plans, and offered voice and taste to assist her experiments. Nor had her elder brother any objection to her being thus brought forward: he was proud of her performance, and gratified with the compliments it elicited; and all went well till the new hymnals arrived, and books upon books, full of new tunes, anthems, and chants, were accumulating on the music-stand. 'What are you about there all the evening, not opening your lips?' 'Leonard is writing out his verses, and I am copying music.' 'I wonder you neither of you will remember that that table was never meant to be littered over with all sorts of rubbish!' 'I thought tables were to put things on,' returned Leonard coolly. 'Drawing-room tables were not made to be inked! That cover will be ruined in a day or two!' 'Very well--then we'll pay for it!' said Leonard, in the same aggravating tone. 'Here are newspapers spread between it and the ink,' said Averil, displaying them with an air of injured innocence that made Henry subside; but he presently exclaimed: 'Is that copying to go on all night? Can't you speak, nor play anything, to send one off to sleep?' With a martyr look, yet a satirical glance, Averil opened the piano; and Henry settled himself in the master's arm-chair, as one about to enjoy well-earned rest and entertainment after a hard day's work. 'I say, what doleful drone have you there!' 'I am trying a new chant for the "Nunc Dimittis".' 'Nothing but that day and night! Give us something worth hearing.' 'I thought you only wanted to go to sleep.' 'I don't want to dream myself into church, listening to Scudamour's proses: I've quite enough of that on Sunday.' Ave began to play one of her school waltzes; and the touch of her fingers on the keys had so sharp-edged and petulant a tone, that Leonard smiled to himself as he ran his fingers through his hair over his books. Nor was it soothing to Henry, who, instead of going to sleep, began to survey the room, and get food for annoyance. 'I say,' said he, looking across at a little brass-barred bookcase of ornamental volumes on the opposite chiffonniere, 'what book is out there?' 'Scott's "Lay",' said Leonard; 'it is up in my room.' 'I told you, Ave, not to let the drawing-room books be carried about the house to be spoilt!' said Henry, who seldom reproved his brother direct, but generally through Ave.