"Yes, I know she does; she has a natural taste that way, and is very skilful in using her fingers. All our family are so," said Therese, with a little gentle pride. "Still, work is work, whether you like it or not, and it isn't pleasant to work when one would rather play or read."
"Yes; if one need only work when one felt like it, I shouldn't mind it so much," said Marion, with a sigh.
"If you only worked when you felt like it, you would never accomplish anything in the world," said Lizzy. "I am sure that plan doesn't answer with lessons at all. I soon found that out. I tried it with my music. I thought it would be dreadful to play when I didn't feel like it, and presently I discovered that I never did feel like doing the most important parts of my lessons, the scales and exercises. Now I just say to myself, 'If I don't have this lesson, Mr. Dundas will scold nineteen to the dozen when he comes, and that will provoke me and worry mother dreadfully.' So I go at it as I would at the clothes-wringer. It is the same with my compositions. If I wait till I feel like it, I am sure to be behindhand."
Now, Marion had been behindhand several times lately, and she chose to consider these words of Lizzy's as a hint at herself. It was a great mistake, for Lizzy was not a person to give hints of any sort. However, she drew into her shell and was very silent for the rest of the walk, while Lizzy and Therese chatted gayly of all sorts of things.
"Well, good-bye, girls. I suppose I shall see you on Saturday?" said Therese as they parted. "Are you going home pretty soon, Lizzy?"
"No; Marion has asked me to stay to tea," said Lizzy, who had never guessed the offence she had given. "Be sure you come on Saturday, Therese."
"How Mrs. Tremaine does spoil Therese!" said Marion, pettishly, as Therese went on her way. "She is growing as forward as can be. I don't think it is any kindness to her at all."
"Why, Marion, I think she is as sweet as can be," answered Lizzy, warmly; "and as to her being forward, who was there to be forward to? I'm sure she is as good as we are; why not?"
"But her father, Lizzy," said Marion, feeling that it would hardly answer to bring the heiress of McGregor under the eye of such an irreverent person as the doctor's daughter.
"Well, she isn't to blame for that, and I think it would be a shame to visit it on her, don't you, Miss Barbara?"