"We are very, very fond of music," she said, smiling. "It is rather a hobby with us, I think."
"A hobby! Ah, that's delightful. I'm so glad it is a hobby. You don't, by happy chance, play the violin, do you?"
"No. We only know the piano."
"You all play the piano?—old masters, and that sort of thing?"
"Yes. My sister Patty plays best. Her touch and expression are beautiful."
"Ah!" he exclaimed again, softly, as if with much inward satisfaction. He was sitting languidly on his chair, nursing his knee, and gazing through the balustrade of the gallery upon the crowd below. Elizabeth was on the point of suggesting that they might now go and look at the pictures, when he began upon a fresh topic.
"And about china, Miss King? Tell me, do you know anything about china?"
"I'm afraid not," said Elizabeth.
"You don't know the difference between Chelsea and Derby-Chelsea, for instance?"
"No."