“Me?” echoed Louisa confusedly. Louisa’s sister Alice lifted her eyes in silent appeal to the fates. “I draw the line at a mouth organ.” Her sister frowned at the ceiling. “And even that I’m out of practice with.” Louisa found her handkerchief in a back pocket, and with some idea of hiding her confusion, rubbed her little nose vigorously.
“I think you have dropped this,” said Lady Frances, stooping.
“Oh, that’s only a bit out of this evening’s newspaper. About my brother,” added the girl.
“Really! May I read it, I wonder.”
“Spell the words you can’t pronounce,” said Louisa. The room waited. Erb shifted his feet and endeavoured to look unconcerned.
“Are you— Are you Miss Spanswick, then?” pleasantly and encouragingly.
“Am I Miss Spanswick?” echoed Louisa with despair in her voice. “Give it ’old! This is my brother’s name—Herbert Barnes—and, consequently, my name is Barnes. Not Spanswick.”
“I see! tell me what can I play?”
“Play something you know,” advised Louisa.