Ingred opened her music with an almost "don't care" feeling.

For one delirious moment she felt at her ease, then, alack! her mood suddenly changed.

In a last lightning glance towards the audience she noticed among the crowd near the tea-stall the tall thin figure, cadaverous face, and long lank hair of Dr.Linton.The sight instantly wrecked her world of composure.

If it had not been for the fact that Miss Clough was standing near, and nodding to her to begin, she would have run away from the platform.
"Oh, the ill luck of it!" she thought.

"If I had only played last time, instead of Gertie, I'd have had it over before he came into the room! I know he'll be just listening to every note, and criticizing!" With a horrid feeling, as if her breath would not come properly, and her head was slightly spinning, and her hands dithering, Ingred began her "Nocturne," trying with a sort of "drowning" effort to keep her mind on the music in front of her, instead of on the music-master at the other end of the room.