When they reached the piano, Lili began to play her one piece, and when she came to the end, she glanced at Dora who nodded so pleasantly that Lili, thus encouraged, began again at the beginning.

Presently Dora began to sing the words; Wili, who was waiting in vain for his chance to play, joined her; then Hunne too; so that a loud chorus rang out cheerily from the school-room-- "Live your life merrily While the lamp glows; Ere it can fade and die, Gather the rose." They were so carried away by their own music that the voices rose louder and louder, and Hunne's out-screamed them all.

Presently Lili twirled round on her stool, and said, her eyes shining with joyful expectation: "Just wait till to-morrow, Dora, and then you'll see!" for the child had worked so diligently at her exercises that morning that she felt that she had a right to claim at least half a dozen new pieces from Miss Hanenwinkel to-morrow.
At this moment the bell rang for the twins to go to their lessons; a sound that Hunne was well-pleased to hear, for now he could have Dora to himself till dinner-time; and the little girl gave herself up to him so cheerfully and with such warm interest in the artistic performances of his nut-cracker, that he made a firm resolution then and there never to let her go again.

But no sooner was dinner over, than his plan was completely upset.

Paula had finished her French lessons, and with her mother's leave, she now took possession of Dora.