But, thanks to the wisdom of Patrick Lovell, who had seen to it that she studied under one of the finest masters of the day, she was not a musician by temperament alone, but had also a surprisingly good technique.
At the close of the second suite, Trent turned to her enthusiastically, his face aglow.

For the moment he was no longer the hermit, aloof and enigmatical, but an eager comrade, spontaneously appealing to a congenial spirit.
"That went splendidly, didn't it ?" he exclaimed.

"The pianoforte score is a pretty stiff one, but I was sure"-- smilingly--"from the downright way you answered my question about accompaniments, that you'd prove equal to it." Sara smiled back at him.
"I didn't think it necessary to make any conventional professions of modesty--to you," she said.

"You don't--wrap things up much--yourself." He leaned against the piano, looking down at her.
"No.

Nothing I say can make things either better or worse for me, so I have at least gained freedom from the conventions.