"He was once in a band." "You must bring it round," cried Emmy.
But when Septimus, prevailed on by her entreaties, did appear with the instrument in Mrs.Oldrieve's drawing-room, he made such unearthly and terrific noises that Mrs.Oldrieve grew pale and Zora politely but firmly took it from his hands and deposited it in the umbrella-stand in the hall.
"I hope you don't mind," she said.
"Oh, dear, no," said Septimus mildly.

"I could never make out why anybody liked it." Seeing that Septimus had a sentimental side to his character, Emmy gradually took him into her confidence, until Septimus knew things that Zora did not dream of.

Zora, who had been married, and had seen the world from Nunsmere Pond to the crater of Mount Vesuvius, treated her sister with matronly indulgence, as a child to whom Great Things were unrevealed.

She did not reckon with the rough-and-tumble experiences of life which a girl must gain from a two years' battle on the stage.

In fact, she did not reckon with any of the circumstances of Emmy's position.