“Nonsense! What would be the use, where the pleasure, in singing to cabbages? I mean simply inhabitants of Elberthal. What can there be so formidable about them?”
I murmured something.
“Well, will you do it?”
“I am sure I should break down,” said I, trying to find some sign of relenting in his eyes. I discovered none. He was not waiting to hear whether I said “yes” or “no,” he was waiting until I said “yes.”
“If you did,” he replied, with a friendly smile, “I should never teach you another note.”
“Why not?”
“Because you would be a coward, and not worth teaching.”
“But Miss Hallam?”
“Leave her to me.”
I still hesitated.