You will be perfectly happy, if you will only be sensible! I hope you will be at home alone to-morrow." When the gentlemen entered, Dick Forsythe was quick to make his way to Lois, sitting in the glimmer of the wax-lights in the sconces, at the old piano.
She stopped, and let her hands fall with a soft crash on the yellow keys.
"Do go on," he pleaded.
"No," she said, "it is too cold over here; let us come to the fire," and she slipped away to her father's side.

After that she was silent until it was time to say good-night, for no one expected her to speak, although Dick was the centre of the group, and did most of the talking.

Later in the evening they had some whist, and after that, just before the party broke up, Mr.Denner was asked to sing.
He rose, coughed deprecatingly, and glanced sidewise at Mr.Forsythe; he feared he was out of tune.

But Miss Deborah insisted with great politeness.
"If Miss Ruth would be so good as to accompany me," said Mr.Denner, "I might at least make the attempt." Miss Ruth was shy about playing in public, but Mr.Denner encouraged her.
"You must overcome your timidity, my dear Miss Ruth," he said.

"I--I am aware that it is quite painful; but one ought not to allow it to become a habit, as it were.