At his amused glance her face flushed scarlet.
"Why, you're just a kid!" he answered impudently. "Mr. Brown's pretty busy!" Then it suddenly occurred to him that it would be something like a joke on the "boss" to take these two children to his busy office. The clerk was not overfond of the head of the firm.
"Well, come along," he concluded, winking at the other men. He led the two girls through a labyrinth of offices and up a stairway to the manager's door.
"Two young ladies to see you!" he announced and shut the door of the office quickly behind him.
Keineth, frightened, had to swallow twice before she could make a sound. Then, holding the manuscript out, she explained her errand to the manager. Tipped back in his chair he listened with a smile; however, he took the roll from her and, opening it, glanced over it indifferently.
"Let me play it for you," begged Keineth desperately.
He led them into an inner room in the centre of which stood an open grand piano. Keineth went straight to it and began to play. He listened through to the end.
"Wait a moment;" he waved her back to the stool. "I want Gregory to hear you." The tone of his voice had changed.
In answer to a summons Gregory came in, a thin, tired-looking man. The manager turned to him:
"This girl has brought in some music! I want you to hear it," and he nodded to Keineth to begin.