Once again as the speaker resumed her seat the audience rose to its feet in a silent ovation.
Then someone swept her hands softly over the organ keys, and they sang as they had never sung it before: “Oh say, can you see!”
As the last note died away, Norma stole a look at Lena’s face. It was cold, gray, and hard as steel. She had not been singing.
When, at last, dry-eyed but determined, Norma left the room she whispered, “Betty, I’m afraid.”
“Afraid? Why?” Betty asked.
“I don’t know—just afraid, that’s all.”
CHAPTER XI
TWO AGAINST TWO
At seven that evening Norma found herself in a place of great enchantment. Since her father was with her, the fear of mid-afternoon was gone, and joy reigned supreme.
Those ancient officers’ homes that lined one side of the parade ground had always intrigued her. Now she was really inside one of them, and it was indeed charming.