"Oh, Miss Leicester is not going to sing," cried Rose, saucily. "What will you do now?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, looking inquiringly from one to another.
"Why," said Emily, "Dr. Heathfield has forbidden anything of the kind, and was quite peppery about it."
"Confound Dr. Heathfield!" he exclaimed angrily. "Is this true?" he asked, turning to Isabel.
"Yes."
"It is all nonsense! I shall speak to Heathfield about it."
"That will do no good, Everard," interposed Emily; "He told mamma that Isabel ought not to think of doing so at present."
"You did not think it would hurt you Miss Leicester," he asked.
"Never for a moment."
"I dare say he thinks you are going to join the choir altogether, I shall tell him that it is only the anthem to-morrow, that you intend taking part in, surely he cannot object to that." What passed between them did not transpire, but when Everard returned he said to Isabel in a tone of deep earnestness, "I should not have asked you to sing, had I known the harm it might possibly do you, indeed I would not, and though annoyed beyond measure at having to give up the anthem, I am very glad that Dr. Heathfield's opportune visit prevented you running such a risk, for had any serious consequences ensued, I alone should have been to blame."