She was silent for a minute or two. Then she said, with some unusual timidity of manner—
"I should very much like to have an engagement at a place where I could sing."
"Sing!" repeated Hubert, arching his brows a little. "Can you sing? Have you a voice?"
"Yes," said Cynthia.
The audacity of the assertion took away Hubert's breath. He looked at her pityingly.
"My dear Miss West, are you aware that singing is a profession in itself, and requires a professional training, like other things?"
"Yes. But I can sing," said the girl decidedly.
"Where did you learn?"
"At school, and then of an old music-master in the boarding-house where I am living."
If he had not been afraid of wounding her feelings, Hubert would have shrugged his shoulders. They were again standing on the pavement, face to face, and he refrained from the scornful gesture.