"Why, Split! Do you s'pose I want to put the fingering down?"
"You do; but you sha'n't!" exclaimed Split, savagely.
"All I want to do is to help you," said Sissy, with well-bred forbearance.
"Well, don't show off, then."
Split withdrew her hand, and the lesson proceeded.
"I'll play your piece for you first, Split, to show you how it ought to go." Sissy rose, her calico rustling, to change the professorial chair for the stool of the demonstrator.
But Split sat like a rock.
"Professor Trask always does, Split."
There was an abused note in Sissy's voice that deceived her sister. In the perennial game of "bluff" these two played, each was alert to detect a weakness in the other; and Irene thought she had found one now. Ignoring her professor, she placed "In Sweet Dreams" on the rack before her, and gaily and loudly, and very badly, began to play.
Sissy rose majestically. Her correct ear was outraged, her small mouth was shut tight. Without a word she resigned her post and made for the door. She had quite reached it before Split capitulated.