He smiled, looked down at the pattern of the carpet and did not speak for some minutes. His soul was thrilled and satisfied in her presence. As he lifted his eyes from the floor they rested on the piano.
“Will you play for me, Miss Sallie? Auntie says you play delightfully.”
“Auntie? Who is Auntie?”
“Mrs. Durham, my foster mother, of course. Excuse my unconscious assumption of your familiarity with all my antecedents. I can’t get over the impression that I have known you all my life.”
“And that reminds me that I started to say something to you yesterday that was perfectly ridiculous, but caught myself in time.”
“I wish you had said it.”
“Mrs. Durham is a great flatterer of those she loves. She thinks I can play. But I’m the veriest amateur.”
“Let me be the judge.”
She was looking over her music, and he had opened the piano.
“I ’ll play for you with pleasure. Sit there in that big arm chair. I’m sorry I tired you so early in the day with my chatter.”