"You ought to play in public at concerts. But how you must have worked! I'm not up to the classic, and I can't play like you, anyway. What I like, what I love, is dance music,—waltzes,—and I've got the loveliest duet in that time. It'll be as easy as A B C too. I'll run and get it now, and my violin, and you just try it with me, and—oh, say, have you asked your teacher what I told you to? You haven't? Well, never mind for anybody's permission. 'T won't take you long; I'll—"
"You really must excuse me, but I can't play any more now," interrupted Hope's voice, as Dolly turned to go for her violin.
"Oh, dear, I wish I'd come sooner, before you had started off on that long thing. But will you play with me to-morrow about this time? Or why not to-night after dinner?"
"But," with a queer little smile, "I haven't asked my teacher's permission yet."
"No, and I don't believe you care two pins about that," answered Dolly.
"Well, I don't believe it would be of any use," responded Hope, guardedly.
"Then say to-night after dinner."
"To-night after dinner I had promised to read French with Kate Van der Berg."
"Oh, well, there'll be time enough for that too; and you won't mind, will you, if she plays with me first?" addressing Kate.
"Mind? I shall mind a great deal," Kate made haste to reply. "I know how it is when these musical people get started; they never know when to stop. No, she's promised to me to-night, and I'm not going to let her off."