They sang like seraphs, grouped around the piano, fingers linked behind
their backs. First it was "The Vicar of Bray." Then--and the cat fled at
the first chord--"Lochleven Castle":
"Put off, put off,
And row with speed
For now is the time and the hour of need."
Miss Erroll sang, too; her voice leading--a charmingly trained, but
childlike voice, of no pretensions, as fresh and unspoiled as the girl
herself.
There was an interval after "Castles in the Air"; Eileen sat, with her
marvellously white hands resting on the keys, awaiting further
suggestion.
"Sing that funny song, Uncle Philip!" pleaded Billy; "you know--the one
about:
"She hit him with a shingle
Which made his breeches tingle
Because he pinched his little baby brother;
And he ran down the lane
With his pants full of pain.
Oh, a boy's best friend is his mother!"
"_Billy!_" gasped Miss Erroll.
Selwyn, mortified, said severely: "That is a very dreadful song,
Billy--"
"But _you_ taught it to me--"
Eileen swung around on the piano stool, but Selwyn had seized Billy and
was promising to bolo him as soon as he wished.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110