“Not a bit; Tell me some more about your pipe organ lessons. Which do you like best, organ or piano? I suppose piano is easier.”
“My old organ teacher and I quarrel every once in a while about that. He began with piano, too, and likes it, of course, but says that anybody who gives pipe organ study a fair trial likes it better, so many more effects and so on, and so much power in the organ. But I hold out for piano still, though I thoroughly enjoy the pipe organ work and do not find it so hard because of having played piano so long. One reads music, you know, and has the fingering of keys and the idea of expression and all.”
“Have you had harmony and counterpoint?”
“Yes; have you?”
“No, but I must, because I try to make up little songs and do not know whether the accompaniments are right or not. O, dear, I’ll never catch up to you!”
Philip’s face showed how little he thought Lilian needed anything more to make her perfect, as he replied, “You are way beyond me, I’m afraid. Let me help you with accompaniment. I’d love to try it! Send me the melody and words and what idea of accompaniment you have, whatever you have written, and I will see if you have broken any of the rules at least, and if you want me to, I’ll perhaps suggest some chords that would be good.”
“O, that will be wonderful!” Lilian clasped her hands in delight. “But wouldn’t it bother you too much? You will be so busy with your own work.”
“I’d consider it a privilege.”
“Well, you are nice!” But something in Philip’s tone made Lilian hurry on to say, “I have always wanted to be a singer, Philip, but Mother says it’s an awful life. She says that I can have the lessons and sing without being a concert singer. But still sometimes I think I would like to try it.”
“I’m very fond of music, you know,” replied Philip, “but Father needs me in the business, and I like his line, too. I want a regular job. I think every man ought to have one, and as I don’t care to be a public performer or a music teacher, I think I’ll just keep it for recreation, boring my family with occasional practice and much private enjoyment of my own.”