She had recovered the shy equanimity with which she always filled in pauses for her sister.
"You must not allow the fine work of others to paralyze your young activities," Miss Grace said gravely. "Mr. Sturgis was young himself once, and no doubt at school studied freehand drawing very diligently to be so great as he is now."
"Oh, no," said Elma, "that's one of the funny parts. Mr. Sturgis doesn't approve of freehand drawing at all. He says it's anything but freehand, he says it's--it's--oh! I mustn't say it."
"Say it," said Miss Annie cheerfully.
"He says it's rotten," said Elma.
There was something of a pause after this.
"And it's so funny with Mabel," said Elma. "Mabel never practises a scale unless mamma goes right into the room and hears her do it. But Mabel can read off and play Chopin. And papa takes me to hear Liszt Concertos, and I can't play one of them."
"You can't stretch the chords yet, dearie," said Miss Grace.
"No, but it's very demor--what was it I said?" she asked Miss Annie anxiously.
"Demoralizing," said Miss Annie.