He has given me the most difficult one, and while giving it to me he said: 'I shall really make something fine out of you.'" Agnes was throwing her music sheets away as if they were her greatest enemies; then she ran away to her room.

There she threw herself down on a chair and began to sob loudly.

Cornelli had followed her, for she was filled with sympathy.

Putting her arms about Agnes, she said: "Tell me, Agnes, what makes you cry.

I know what it is like to have to cry like that.