“An old gentleman wanted you to marry him, and you would not,” said he, with an odd twinkle in his eyes.
“Why, how can you know?”
“I think, because you told me. But I will forget it if you wish.”
“Oh, no! It is quite true. Perhaps I ought to have married him.”
“Ought!” He looked startled.
“Yes. Adelaide—my eldest sister—said so. But it was no use. I was very unhappy, and Miss Hallam, who is Sir Peter’s deadly enemy—he is the old gentleman, you know—was very kind to me. She invited me to come with her to Germany, and promised to let me have singing lessons.”
“Singing lessons?”
I nodded. “Yes; and then when I know a good deal more about singing, I shall go back again and give lessons. I shall support myself, and then no one will have the right to want to make me marry Sir Peter.”
“Du lieber Himmel!” he ejaculated, half to himself. “Are you very musical, then?”
“I can sing,” said I. “Only I want some more training.”