The drawing-room was about twice as large as the dining-room, and it contained about four times as much furniture. Once again there were books all round the walls. A grand piano, covered with music, stood in a corner, and behind was a cabinet full of bound music.
Mr Brindley, seated on one corner of the bench in front of the piano, cut the leaves of the Sinfonia Domestica.
'It's the devil!' he observed.
'Aye, lad!' agreed Mr Colclough, standing over him. 'It's difficult.'
'Come on,' said Mr. Brindley, when he had finished cutting.
'Better take your dust-coat off, hadn't you?' Mrs Brindley suggested to the friend. She and I were side by side on a sofa at the other end of the room.
'I may as well,' Mr Colclough admitted, and threw the long garment on to a chair. 'Look here, Bob, my hands are stiff with steering.'
'Don't find fault with your tools,' said Mr Brindley; 'and sit down. No, my boy, I'm going to play the top part. Shove along.'
'I want to play the top part because it's easiest,' Mr Colclough grumbled.
'How often have I told you the top part is never easiest? Who do you suppose is going to keep this symphony together—you or me?'