"Lili, go down stairs and practise your exercises until Miss Hanenwinkel has finished Paula's music lesson.

Wili, go on with your studying, and the best thing you can do, Jule, to help me, is to amuse the little one until I am at leisure." The "big Jule" was ready to help to restore order after his bit of fun, and Lili ran down stairs to the piano as she was bidden.

She found herself too much excited after the exertion of playing boot-jack for her brother, and her exercises did not run smoothly, so she took up one of her "pieces" to work off her superfluous energy upon, and began to play with great emphasis, "Live your life merrily, While the lamp glows, Ere it can fade and die, Gather the rose." Uncle Titus and his wife were just finishing their breakfast in a neighboring house when the affair of the boots began.

Uncle Titus hastened to his room, closing the windows and fastening them against the noise.

His wife summoned their hostess rather peremptorily, and asked her "just to listen to that" for herself.