"Yes; would you like me to play you something?" Violet asked, as she began to draw off her gloves.
"Yes, yes!" cried the child, an earnest look of expectation and pleasure flashing into her face.
Violet went directly to a fine Steinway piano that was in the room, and without the slightest consciousness or embarrassment, thinking only of contributing to the young girl's employment, played a couple of selections with great expression and correctness.
"Now sing," commanded Miss Bertha, upon the conclusion of the second piece; and Violet sang a lovely little ballad in her clear, pure, cultivated tones.
There was not a sound in the room until the last note died away; then Bertha exclaimed, in a voice that thrilled with feeling:
"Oh, that was beautiful!"
Violet glanced at her, and saw that great tears were rolling down her cheeks, and she told herself that there must be much of good in a nature that could be so affected by music.
She could easily perceive that she had a strong will and was of a somewhat arbitrary temperament; but she believed that she had been antagonized and confirmed in these faults by unwise government.
She went again to her side, saying in a tender tone:
"You are fond of music, aren't you, dear?" and as she spoke she gently wiped her tears away with her own dainty handkerchief.