That, darling, is inspiration! I should have played the sackbut by inspiration; whereupon Nebuchadnezzar would instantly have had me cast into the burning fiery furnace." "Oh, Ronnie, I wish I could laugh! But to-morrow is so near.

What shall I do when there is nobody here to tell me silly stories ?" "Ask Mademoiselle Victorine to try her hand at it.

Say: 'Chere Mademoiselle, s'il-vous-plait, racontez-moi une extremement sotte histoire.'" "Ronnie, do stop chaffing! Go and play me something really beautiful, and sing very softly, as you did the other night; so that I can hear the tones of the piano and your voice vibrating together." "No," said Ronnie, "I can't.

I have a cast-iron lump in my throat just now, and not a note could pass it.

Besides, I don't really play the piano." He stretched out his foot, and kicked a log into the fire.
The flame shot up, illumining the room.