I think everyone present felt that he or she had some part in the concert. It was what they all would have done if they had been able, and as we listened to song after song, some “spirituals,” some full of laughter, and saw the rapt expression on the face of Mrs. Hartlett, we felt that the “century” was being crowned felicitously through the happy idea of an ignorant girl, whose heart was in the right place.
The thing that made Minerva a joy forever was that her heart was in the right place.
Perhaps that is why James had found it so easily.
When we went home at sunset from the old lady’s house Cherry walked by her old-time playmate, Billy, and it struck me that he might be thinking of becoming a rival to Sibthorp and Hepburn.
“It’s cruel in Cherry to let that young man walk with her,” said I to Ethel.
“Oh, I don’t believe that he has ever thought of Cherry except as an old friend,” said she.
“Well, if Cherry lets him walk with her much he will begin to think Cherry is catching.”
“But she’s already caught,” said Ethel.
And we could hear Hepburn at that very moment singing a little thing that Cherry was very fond of playing.