Then, as David still continued to play, he added sharply: "Did n't you hear me, boy ?" The music stopped abruptly.

David looked up with the slightly dazed air of one who has been summoned as from another world.
"Did you speak to me, sir ?" he asked.
"I did--twice.

I asked if you never did anything but play that fiddle." "You mean at home ?" David's face expressed mild wonder without a trace of anger or resentment.

"Why, yes, of course.

I couldn't play ALL the time, you know.