And all the time she kept saying to herself, 'Another whole day! I shall be by the sea again tomorrow! I shall sleep and wake close by the sea!' Presently Mrs.Ormonde had to absent herself for a few minutes.
'You heard what the children said about 'good-night.' I always go and see them as soon as they are tucked up in bed.

I don't think they'd sleep if I missed.' The kind office over, she spoke with Mrs.Mapper about the evening's singing.
'Did you know,' the latter asked, 'what a voice Miss Trent has ?' 'She sings?
I didn't know.' 'I was so delighted that I had to stop singing myself.

I'm sure it's a wonderful voice.' 'Indeed! I must ask her to sing to me.' She found Thyrza turning over the leaves of a volume of photographs.
Without speaking, she sat down at the piano, and began to play gently the air of 'Annie Laurie.' Thyrza looked up, and then came nearer.
'You are fond of music ?' said Mrs.Ormonde.
'Very fond.

How beautiful your playing is!' 'To-morrow you shall hear Miss Newthorpe play; hers is much better.
Will you sing this for me ?' When it was sung, she asked what other songs Thyrza knew.

They were all, of course, such as the people sing; some of them Mrs.Ormonde did not know at all, but to others she was able to play an accompaniment.
Her praise was limited to a few kind words.