"Very true, so he did. Your memory is better than mine, Sister Chloe, as is to be expected at your age. Do either of you play the organ, nieces?"
"Amabel plays," said I. "She used sometimes to play in the church when Sister Filomena was not able."
"And do you sing?" asked Mrs. Deborah. "I hope you do for we are all fond of singing."
"Lucy sings!" said Amabel, answering for me, as I had done for her. "Mr. Lilburne thinks she has a fine voice, and he has been teaching her some of Mr. Handel's songs."
There was a harpsichord in the room, and as Mrs. Deborah asked to hear me, I sung the last lesson I had learned, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," while Amabel played the accompaniment for me. I saw Mrs. Philippa's door softly opened a little bit while I was singing.
"That is beautiful!" said Mrs. Deborah, with a good deal of feeling when I had concluded. "I never heard it before. You have given us a treat we did not expect, niece."
"Yes indeed, a treat we did not expect!" added Mrs. Chloe. "I hope poor Sister Philippa will enjoy your music, niece. She used to be very fond of it. Do you think she will enjoy it, Sister Deborah?"
"I cannot say, I am sure!" was the answer. "It is not easy to tell what Philippa will like, you know. She is sometimes very much disturbed by noise."
The remark was made in a slightly raised tone, and I fancy was meant to be heard in the next room. Tupper opened the door directly afterward.
"My mistress would like to hear the young lady sing something else, if she knows any thing but psalm tunes!" said she, with a queer half-smile on her shrewd face.