Dinner was hilarious. Mr. Craig and Tommy and Jack, who was permitted to eat downstairs now, kept everyone in stitches with old jokes and bad puns. And after a dessert of apple pie and ice cream, the family adjourned to the parlor.
“I wonder,” Mr. Craig mused, “whether we might hear our young geniuses perform.”
Without hesitation, Bert said, “I left my violin in the hall. If you like, I’ll get it.”
“He’s a pretty poised youngster for one so young,” Mr. Craig said, watching him go out to the hall.
“My, he’s a nice kid,” Kit said.
“You can say that again!” Tommy agreed. “I’m gonna get the gang together next time he comes for dinner. We’ll have a peachy time.”
They could hear Bert tuning his violin in the hall.
“Tommy,” Mr. Craig said, “isn’t Bert a little old for your gang?” He glanced over at Doris. “I have a hunch that next time he comes to dinner, he might be calling on someone else.”
Bert came back into the parlor and handed Doris some sheet music. “This isn’t exactly fair. You have to do all the sight reading. I know it by heart.”
Doris sat down at the piano. “I don’t mind,” she said. “Oh good! Scarlatti! Why, I know this sonata!”