between you and I, she has one fault—she doesn't appreciate any of us—she thinks it's her that does the whole darn' thing! As I say, I admire her, but, by golly, it does make me sore sometimes to never have her appreciate your music—I mean the way it ought to be appreciated—see how I mean?"
"Oh, that is so nice of you, but I don't deserve—"
"But I've always appreciated it, don't you think, Lily?"
"Oh, yes, indeed you have, and it's been such an encouragement—"
"Oh, well, say, I'm just tickled to death to have you say that, Lily." A firmer pressure on her frail hand. "Do you like to have me like your music?"
"Oh, yes."
"But do you like to have me like you?"
"Oh, yes. Of course, we're all working together—oh, like sister and brother—"
"Lily! Don't you think we might ever be, uh, don't you think we could be just a little closer than sister and brother?"
"Oh, you're just being mean! How could you ever like poor little me when you belong to Sharon?"
"What do you mean? Me belong to Sharon? Say! I admire her tremendously, but I'm absolutely free, you can bet your life on that, and just because I've always been kinda shy of you—you have such a kinda flower-like beauty, you might say, that no man, no, not the coarsest, would ever dare to ruffle it—and because I've stood back, sorta feeling like I was protecting you, maybe you think I haven't appreciated all your qualities!"
She swallowed.
"Oh, Lily, all I ask for is the chance now and then, whenever you're down in the mouth—and all of us must feel like that, unless we think we're the whole cheese and absolutely own the gospel game!—whenever you feel that way, lemme have the privilege of telling you how greatly one fellow appreciates the loveliness that you scatter along the road!"
"Do you really feel that way? Maybe I can play the piano, but personally I'm nothing . . . nothing."
"It isn't true, it isn't true, dearest! Lily! It's so like your modesty to not appreciate what sunshine you bring into the hearts of all of us, dear, and how we cherish—"
