"A banjo would have been cheaper." Beaton so far admitted him to the conversation as to seem reminded of the piano by his mentioning it.

He said to Mela, "Oh, won't you just strike those chords ?" and as Mela wheeled about and beat the keys he took the banjo from Christine and sat down with it.

"This way!" He strummed it, and murmured the tune Dryfoos had heard him singing from the library, while he kept his beautiful eyes floating on Christine's.
"You try that, now; it's very simple." "Where is Mrs.Mandel ?" Dryfoos demanded, trying to assert himself.
Neither of the girls seemed to have heard him at first in the chatter they broke into over what Beaton proposed.

Then Mela said, absently, "Oh, she had to go out to see one of her friends that's sick," and she struck the piano keys.

"Come; try it, Chris!" Dryfoos turned about unheeded and went back to the library.