serious boy with long clever fingers. He meant to be a musician when he grew up. He looked at Elizabeth and didnt smile.
I suppose he doesnt think girls can play at all,” thought Elizabeth.
She was right. Richard was disgusted to find that he was expected to play a duet with a girl-and Elizabeth too, that bold bad one! What would she know of music?
They began. Elizabeth had practiced so hard that she knew her part wonderfully well. She took the lower part, the bass, and Richard had the more difficult part, the treble, where the higher notes were.
I shall count the first few bars, said Mr. Lewis. Now-one two three four, one two three four, one two three four …
He soon stopped, for the two children found their own time, and the duet went with a swing. Mr. Lewis let them play it all the way through and then he smiled.
Very good, he said. You have a feeling for each others playing. Now, Richard, wasnt I right when I said I had found someone you need not be afraid of playing with?
But Richard was as obstinate in his way as Elizabeth was in hers. He looked at the little girls flushed face and did not answer. Elizabeth was disappointed.
Mr. Lewis laughed.
Thank you, Richard, he said, You may go-but come back in half an hours time, and I will give you your lesson then. I am going to give Elizabeth hers now. Can you two manage to practice together sometimes?
I suppose so, said Richard ungraciously.
Well, dont if you dont want to! said Elizabeth, flaring up. I play my part just as well as you play yours. You made two mistakes.
And you made three! said Richard.
Now this wont do, said Mr. Lewis, patting Richard on the back. You can choose which you would rather do, Richard-play the duet with Harry or with Elizabeth. I can find someone else for her, you know-but shes the best, after you.
Well-Ill have Elizabeth, said Richard. Harry plays the piano as if his fingers were a bunch of bananas.
Elizabeth went off into a peal of laughter. It tickled her to think of a bunch of bananas playing the piano. Richard laughed too.
Ill practice with Elizabeth, sir, he said to Mr. Lewis. Shes really jolly good.
Elizabeth glowed with pride, because Richard was one of the bigger boys. She settled down to her music lesson happily. Mr. Lewis made her play over the duet with him, and pointed out places where she went wrong. Elizabeth used to get cross when Miss Scott pointed out her mistakes, but with Mr. Lewis it was different. She thought he was very clever indeed, and she could listen all day long to his playing!
Ive ordered that gramophone record, Mr. Lewis, she said. The shop is getting it for me.
Ill come and hear it when it arrives, promised Mr. Lewis. Now lets get on with tackling the sea-piece on our piano, Elizabeth. You want to learn it, dont you-but it wont be easy. Perhaps you could play it for me at the school concert at the end of the term, if youre good enough.
Oh, Id love to, said Elizabeth, pleased, and then she stopped and looked disappointed. Oh, but I cant, I forgot. I shall be going home at half term.
Really? said Mr. Lewis, who knew all about it. Still being the Bold Bad Girl? Dear, dear, what a pity!
Isnt there a concert at half term? asked Elizabeth, her voice trembling.
Afraid not, said Mr. Lewis. Come along-get on with your scales now. Dont worry about not being able to play that sea-piece. I can easily get someone else to learn it for me.
Let me learn it, anyhow, said Elizabeth. Even if I cant play it for you at a concert, I can still learn it for myself, because I love it.
Good, said Mr. Lewis. All right. Ill play it for you now, and you must listen hard.
So Elizabeth listened and was happy. She was happy all the day, and she couldnt help being surprised at herself.
It is a nuisance! thought funny Elizabeth. I really cant go about being happy like this-whatever shall I say to the Meeting at half term?
CHAPTER 15
Two Trick’s—and a Quarrel
The week slipped by quickly. Elizabeth practiced her
I suppose he doesnt think girls can play at all,” thought Elizabeth.
She was right. Richard was disgusted to find that he was expected to play a duet with a girl-and Elizabeth too, that bold bad one! What would she know of music?
They began. Elizabeth had practiced so hard that she knew her part wonderfully well. She took the lower part, the bass, and Richard had the more difficult part, the treble, where the higher notes were.
I shall count the first few bars, said Mr. Lewis. Now-one two three four, one two three four, one two three four …
He soon stopped, for the two children found their own time, and the duet went with a swing. Mr. Lewis let them play it all the way through and then he smiled.
Very good, he said. You have a feeling for each others playing. Now, Richard, wasnt I right when I said I had found someone you need not be afraid of playing with?
But Richard was as obstinate in his way as Elizabeth was in hers. He looked at the little girls flushed face and did not answer. Elizabeth was disappointed.
Mr. Lewis laughed.
Thank you, Richard, he said, You may go-but come back in half an hours time, and I will give you your lesson then. I am going to give Elizabeth hers now. Can you two manage to practice together sometimes?
I suppose so, said Richard ungraciously.
Well, dont if you dont want to! said Elizabeth, flaring up. I play my part just as well as you play yours. You made two mistakes.
And you made three! said Richard.
Now this wont do, said Mr. Lewis, patting Richard on the back. You can choose which you would rather do, Richard-play the duet with Harry or with Elizabeth. I can find someone else for her, you know-but shes the best, after you.
Well-Ill have Elizabeth, said Richard. Harry plays the piano as if his fingers were a bunch of bananas.
Elizabeth went off into a peal of laughter. It tickled her to think of a bunch of bananas playing the piano. Richard laughed too.
Ill practice with Elizabeth, sir, he said to Mr. Lewis. Shes really jolly good.
Elizabeth glowed with pride, because Richard was one of the bigger boys. She settled down to her music lesson happily. Mr. Lewis made her play over the duet with him, and pointed out places where she went wrong. Elizabeth used to get cross when Miss Scott pointed out her mistakes, but with Mr. Lewis it was different. She thought he was very clever indeed, and she could listen all day long to his playing!
Ive ordered that gramophone record, Mr. Lewis, she said. The shop is getting it for me.
Ill come and hear it when it arrives, promised Mr. Lewis. Now lets get on with tackling the sea-piece on our piano, Elizabeth. You want to learn it, dont you-but it wont be easy. Perhaps you could play it for me at the school concert at the end of the term, if youre good enough.
Oh, Id love to, said Elizabeth, pleased, and then she stopped and looked disappointed. Oh, but I cant, I forgot. I shall be going home at half term.
Really? said Mr. Lewis, who knew all about it. Still being the Bold Bad Girl? Dear, dear, what a pity!
Isnt there a concert at half term? asked Elizabeth, her voice trembling.
Afraid not, said Mr. Lewis. Come along-get on with your scales now. Dont worry about not being able to play that sea-piece. I can easily get someone else to learn it for me.
Let me learn it, anyhow, said Elizabeth. Even if I cant play it for you at a concert, I can still learn it for myself, because I love it.
Good, said Mr. Lewis. All right. Ill play it for you now, and you must listen hard.
So Elizabeth listened and was happy. She was happy all the day, and she couldnt help being surprised at herself.
It is a nuisance! thought funny Elizabeth. I really cant go about being happy like this-whatever shall I say to the Meeting at half term?
CHAPTER 15
Two Trick’s—and a Quarrel
The week slipped by quickly. Elizabeth practiced her
Similar Books
