"I have learned a little music," said Marion. "I knew the notes a long time ago, and Lizzy Gates showed me the piano keys and some tunes when I was at home, and Stanley has taught me two or three very pretty pieces since she came. But I am sure I should never play like Stanley, or even Bessy, if I was to practice for ever; and I like drawing a great deal better, after all. Cousin Helen paints beautifully in water-colours."
"Oh, well, no doubt you do well to make the best of it, but I should hardly—However, I never even hint a word of advice about family affairs nowadays. But I really wish you could come and stay with me a few weeks or months. You could do so much to make the house cheerful and you must see that it is very hard for me to be alone all day long, with nobody to speak to but the servant. Come, I know you will. And you might do so much good in our Sunday School. But I suppose you have a class here, of course?"
"No, I am in Cousin Helen's Bible class," said Marion, who was rather sensitive on this point.
"Indeed! Well, I am surprised. However of course, Mrs. Andrews manages that as she does everything else—her own way. I suppose she will want to run the tannery next."
"Have you a Sunday school at Rock Bottom?" asked Marion.
"Oh yes, and a very nice church and minister—at least every one thinks him very nice. I confess his preaching does not come up to my ideas. I like a sermon to be an intellectual feast. Oh how I did enjoy my Sundays in B—! It did seem a little hard to come back and be buried in such a place as Rock Bottom again. I do wish Asahel would move over to Coaltown and engage in some business there. But come, now, say that you will go home with us when we go. I am sure you will like it."
And Marion at last said she would go if mother was willing.
"Oh, mother will be willing if I want you. I always get my way somehow or other," said Gerty. "I have a great deal of will-power. I don't believe in giving up, and I almost invariably carry out my schemes."
"But somebody must give up," said Marion. "All the people in the world can't have their own way. For instance, if you have a plan, and I have another, exactly opposed to it, one of us must give way."
"There comes a leaf out of Mrs. Andrews's book," said Gerty, laughing. "I see she is getting you under her thumb as she does every one else—everybody but me, that is. I did have to give up that time," said Gerty, with a sigh. "I own I am no match for a woman like her. I could not live in the same place with her; and as they were all with her and against me, I gave way for the sake of peace. But about your going with me. I'll tell you what I will do. I have a very nice piano and play very well, though I say it. Indeed, I was called the best pianist in my class at Eaton College, though, thanks to favouritism, I wasn't allowed to play at the class concert. I'll give you lessons on the piano, and you will show Mrs. Andrews that she does not know everything."