“Let's have this, Missy.” He turned to his grandmother. “Ought to hear her do this rag—I've been teaching her double-bass.”

Missy shrank back as he placed the rag-time on the music-rest.

“Oh, I'd rather not—to-day.”

Pete smiled down at her—his amiable but condescending smile.

“What's the matter with to-day?” he asked.

Missy blushed again.

“Oh, I don't know—I just don't feel that way, I guess.”

“Don't feel that way?” repeated Pete. “You're temperamental, are you? How do you feel, Missy?”

Missy feared she was letting herself in for embarrassment; but this was a holy subject. So she made herself answer:

“I guess I feel religious.”