“If you wish it,” Amanda replied.
The kindly professor welcomed them and was soon testing the quality of the girl’s voice. Later, he drew Madge aside and said: “The child has a sweet tone, though not strong. There is a sad note in her voice, strange for one so young. I will teach her gladly, and see what we can make of it.”
And so it was that a new joy came into the life of Amanda Brown.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THE BALL GAME
When the classes were over, the girls met in the lower hall, and Eva was delighted to hear that Amanda had consented to have her voice tried. “And now you will come in with us every Saturday,” she whispered to her friend, when, for a second, they were together in the merry throng of students who were leaving the building.
When they entered the Peterson home, a few moments later, they heard a great racket overhead.
“It sounds as though there were wild Indians in the house,” Madge laughingly exclaimed. “Ho, there, Brother Everett! Are you making all that noise just by yourself?”
“Not much, sis,” a boy’s voice replied. “I have company. Be down directly.” And before the girls had time to lay off their wraps, down the stairs Everett leaped, followed by Bob Angel and Jack Doring.
“Sister mine,” Everett cried, “I do hope that you ordered grub enough, for three uninvited guests are coming to your party and we’re as hungry as Russian wolves in winter.”
Madge laughed and was about to reply, when Jack Doring exclaimed, “Miss Peterson, I do hope that we are not intruding. Bob and I had no intention of staying, but—”