“Will you please say that in different words?”
I thought a moment while I chose simpler words.
“Will you say nothing to Minerva, if I tell you something?”
“Oh, sure.”
“Well, this concert and these nature lessons are solely for the purpose of keeping Minerva’s mind off herself and the city. She wants to go back to New York, and we want her to stay here all summer, and—”
I explained it all to him, and the fellow seemed to enter right into the spirit of the thing, and assured me that he would do all he could to help.
“Where do you live?”
“Down in the valley a bit. When shall I show up in the morning?”
“The earlier, the better. I want you and Minerva to begin to practise for the concert right away. Do you sing by note.”
“Yes, sir.”