“Did it disturb you? But one does not hear very well in the study.”
“I opened the door,” said MacWhirter, bowing again.
“It is not fair,” said Beatrice. “I am clumsy now—clumsy. I once could play.”
“You play excellently. Why that ‘once could’?” said MacWhirter.
“Ah, you are amiable. My old master would have said differently,” she replied.
“We,” said MacWhirter, “are humble amateurs, and to us you are more than excellent.”
“Good old Monsieur Fannière, how he would scold me! He said I would not take my talent out of the napkin. He would quote me the New Testament. I always think Scripture false in French, do not you?”
“Er—my acquaintance with modern languages is not extensive, I regret to say.”
“No? I was brought up at a convent school near Rouen.”
“Ah—that would be very interesting.”