If ever I see you with one in your fingers I will smash it in pieces." Naturally Elnora hushed, but she thought of nothing else after she had finished her lessons.

At last there came a day when for some reason the leader of the orchestra left his violin on the grand piano.

That morning Elnora made her first mistake in algebra.

At noon, as soon as the building was empty, she slipped into the auditorium, found the side door which led to the stage, and going through the musicians' entrance she took the violin.

She carried it back into the little side room where the orchestra assembled, closed all the doors, opened the case and lifted out the instrument.
She laid it on her breast, dropped her chin on it and drew the bow softly across the strings.