Before the others could recover their breath he struck the chords and began to sing again, this time rather hurriedly:
“Come into the garden, Maud”;
But Maud was much too wise.
‘Oh, no,’ said she, ‘the corn has ears
And the potatoes eyes.’
His voice, dwelling lingeringly and fondly on the last note, was drowned in a shout of laughter.
“Great!” choked Buckhart. “Maud was a wise child, all right.”
“Give us another verse, old fellow,” chuckled Elwell.
“I’m afraid I’m not in very good voice to-night,” simpered Fitz, looking coyly down at the keys. “Such a critical audience always makes me so nervous. However——”
He lifted his voice again in the same serious chant.