'Thank you, but that is rather different to last night.'
'It is rather too classical, perhaps. I will try a little lullaby. It's German, and I think you may like it.'
'Hilda,' said Mrs. Forsyth when I had finished, 'you ought to cultivate your gift for music, for you have got a good touch. I am anxious for Violet to play well, but her violin lessons with Miss Graham are a source of constant trouble to me. I wish you could give her a few hints about it. Miss Graham is a good musician, but she certainly does not handle the instrument as you do.'
'I shall be very glad to practise with Violet a little,' I said, 'if Miss Graham does not object.'
Then Nelly called to me from the balcony outside the windows, and I joined her with a sense of relief at getting out into the still, cool evening air.
Captain Gates joined us, and leant against one of the stone pillars enjoying a cigar.
We talked and laughed for some time, then as Nelly moved off a little farther to speak to Hugh, who had also come out, Captain Gates turned to me and said, 'You are having rather a hot time of it just now, Miss Thorn, I feel afraid. Why are you so determined in your views? I feel sorry for you, because you have every one against you.'
His tone was sympathetic.
'I shall get accustomed to that, I suppose,' I said; but as I looked away to the still hills in the distance, my eyes suddenly filled with tears, and I realized how lonely my position was.
'I can't think why you hold out; you are planning a dreary life for yourself, don't you think so?'