'All the better,' she answered. 'The sort of lessons he would get at a school would be no use to him.'
'So I should think,' murmured Edith.
'Leave it, say, for the moment, and when he comes back for his next holidays put him under a good teacher—a really great man. And you'll see!'
'I daresay we shall,' said Bruce, considerably relieved at the postponement. 'Funny though, isn't it, his not knowing one tune from another, when he's a born musician?'
It flashed across Edith what an immense bond of sympathy it was between Bruce and Madame Frabelle that neither of them was burdened with the slightest sense of humour.
When he presently went out (each of them preferred talking to Her alone, and She also enjoyed a tête-à-tête most) Madame Frabelle drew up her chair nearer to Edith and said:
'My dear, I'm going to tell you something. Don't be angry with me, or think me impertinent, but you've been very kind to me, and I look upon you as a real friend.'
'It's very sweet of you,' said Edith, feeling hypnotised, and as if she would gladly devote her life to Madame Frabelle.
'Well, I can see something. You are not quite happy.'
'Not happy!' exclaimed Edith.