He saw that the levity of his words and tones were, for some reason, discordant to Miss Trevennon, and so he spoke in a graver voice, as he said:
“I feel musical to-night, and almost as if I could overcome the hesitation I have spoken of sufficiently to sing you some of the music of Favorita in anticipation of Monday night.”
“Oh, why don’t you? It would be so delightful!” exclaimed Margaret, fired at the suggestion.
“I never feel that I can sing well when I have to play my own accompaniments,” he said. “But for that——”
“Oh, if you have the music, do let me play for you!”
“Could you do it? I thought you did not play. Have you also been practising concealment?”
“My music amounts to nothing, but I could easily manage an accompaniment. Have you the notes?”
“Yes, just at hand. What a delightful idea! I never thought of this. You shouldn’t have cheated me out of such a pleasure all this time. Let me open the piano. Come!”
He tossed his pencil down upon the table, and moved across the room as he spoke. Seeing his action, Margaret checked herself as she was following, and said suddenly:
“I forgot your work. I really cannot interfere with that.”