"I've heard you play dozens--yes, _dozens_!--of things without music at the hostel, so you've just got to try!" "I shall break down, I know I shall!" "Then you can begin again at the beginning.

Fire away, and don't be affected!" commanded Nora.
It is one thing to play a piece from memory when you have the room to yourself, and quite another to play it with half a dozen girls hanging over the piano, and the rest of the audience sitting on their desks.
Ingred wisely did not venture on anything too classical, but tried a bright "Spanish Ballade," and managed to get successfully to the end of it without any breakdown.

In the midst of the clapping that followed came a loud rap-tap-tap at the door, which immediately opened to admit--much to the astonishment of the Fifth--two of the prefects, and a consignment of Sixth form girls.
"Whatever have we been and gone and done now ?" murmured Verity.
"Is music taboo ?" asked Ingred guiltily, slipping away from the piano.
The errand of the prefects, however, was evidently one of conciliation, and not of reproof.

They were smiling, and looking amiability itself.
"We thought, as you've got a piano in your room," began Lilias Ashby, "that we might as well come and join you, if you don't mind.

Janie's got a book of songs with her." "Oh, by all means, of course!" replied VA.