"I wish we could get one or two good performers to come and help us!" she suggested.
"Durracombe isn't at all a musical place," admitted Miss Fanny. "There really isn't anybody whom we could ask. Mrs. Carey used to play, but she's out of practice and I'm sure she wouldn't venture before a roomful of schoolgirls."
"It would be rather an ordeal, I own."
About ten days before the event was to take place Muriel Burnitt had a tea-party at her own home to which she invited Miss Fanny, Miss Mitchell, and the elder boarders, asked them to bring their music, and went through all the programme of the little concert. It, in fact, answered the purpose of a dress rehearsal.
Mavis and Merle had not been included in the invitation and they were very much hurt.
"Muriel asked Beata, only she couldn't come. I know because Romola told me so. She even asked Babbie Williams!"
[Illustration: SHE HAD BROUGHT HER WONDERFUL STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN]
"It's most mean of her to miss us out!"
"When we're playing solos, too!"
The boarders talked tremendously about the pleasant evening they had had, and how very much they had enjoyed themselves.