“I just got some good news,” he said.
“You got some good news?” Laura got up from the stool and stared at him. “How could you get some good news?”
Hashknife laughed softly and sat down again.
“I just got to thinkin’,” he said. “Sometimes I get news thataway. Go ahead and play somethin’, Laura.”
For possibly an hour Laura played snatches of old songs, playing entirely by ear. Hashknife still sprawled on the sofa, his eyes closed. Several times Laura and Peggy exchanged amused glances, thinking he was asleep, but he was far from it. Finally Laura left the organ, and Hashknife opened his eyes.
“Play another one, Laura,” he asked.
“Another one?” The little blond-headed girl laughed. “Why, I’ve been playing for over an hour, Hashknife.”
“Thasso?” He smiled at her. “That shows how much I enjoyed yore music.”
“I don’t believe you were listening at all.”
“Oh, yeah, I was.”