“Shyness, like all other weaknesses, should be conquered,” he rejoined. “The best way of conquering it in this instance is to sing that over again. Just by ourselves, you know.”
“But Mrs Brathwaite won’t thank me. She must have had enough of it,” objected Lilian, with a laugh.
“Enough of it!” exclaimed the old lady. “My dear child, I would have asked you myself but I didn’t quite like to. Now do. Arthur hasn’t heard the first part.”
Thus adjured, she gave way; but this time the shyness to which she had pleaded guilty, made itself manifest by an occasional slight tremor in the sweet, clear voice. Which, however, rendered the pathetic ballad all the more entrancing to her new auditor.
There was silence for a minute when she had ended Claverton broke it.
“That’s the loveliest thing I ever heard.”
“What! Did you never hear it before?”
“Never. But I don’t care how soon I hear it again.”
“Now we must have something cheerful,” said Lilian.
“But it will counteract the other.”