“No, no; set me right, by all means, Mr. Dodd. I am not a hardened offender.”
“Is it not just possible the violin may be the instrument that is out of time?” suggested Talboys, insidiously.
“No,” said David, simply, “I was right enough.”
“Let us try again, Mr. Dodd. Play me a few bars first in exact time. Thank you. Now.”
“All went merry as a marriage bell” for a page and a half; then David, fiddling away, cried out, “You are getting too fast; 'ri tum tiddy, iddy ri tum ti;” then, by stamping and accenting very strongly, he kept the piano from overflowing its bounds. The piece ended. Eve rubbed her hands. “Now you'll catch it, Mr. David!”
“I am afraid I gave you a great deal of trouble, Mr. Dodd.”
“En revanche, you gave us a great deal of pleasure,” put in Mr. Talboys.
Lucy turned her head and smiled graciously. “But piano-forte players play so much by themselves, they really forget the awful importance of time.”
“I profit by your confession that they do sometimes play by themselves,” said Mr. Talboys. “Be merciful, and let us hear you by yourself.”' Eve turned as red as fire.
David backed the request sincerely.