The sparrows
twittered in the garden; and, far away in the schoolroom, the notes of
the piano announced that the music lesson had begun.
"The birds are noisy," said Mrs. Gallilee.
"And the piano sounds out of tune," Miss Minerva remarked.
There was no help for it. Either Mrs. Gallilee must return to the
matter in hand---or the matter in hand must drop.
"I am afraid I have not made myself understood," she resumed.
"I am afraid I have been very stupid," Miss Minerva confessed.
Resigning herself to circumstances, Mrs. Gallilee put the adjourned
question under a new form. "We were speaking of Mr. Le Frank as a
teacher, and of my niece as a pupil," she said. "Have you been able to
form any opinion of Carmina's musical abilities?"
Miss Minerva remained as prudent as ever. She answered, "I have had no
opportunity of forming an opinion."
Mrs. Gallilee met this cautious reply by playing her trump card. She
handed a letter to Miss Minerva. "I have received a proposal from Mr.
Le Frank," she said. "Will you tell me what you think of it?"
The letter was short and servile. Mr. Le Frank presented his best
respects. If Mrs. Gallilee's charming niece stood in need of musical
instruction, he ventured to hope that he might have the honour and
happiness of superintending her studies.
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