her ripe lips parted in a smile. She remembered the presence of the brothers and, as she finished, her eyes sought theirs. She seemed timidly to ask for approbation.
The last long-drawn sweet note had been too much for one of the spaniels. He raised his muzzle and gave vent to a deep howl.
"Did he hate it so?" asked Minny Ware, looking askance at the dog.
"Down, Merlin," said Renny. "He's like his master. He's not musical."
Her face fell. "I thought the other night you enjoyed it."
"I enjoyed this, too. But you sang more passionate things the other night. I suppose something else in me was appealed to then."
"Oh, I love passionate music!" She spoke with abandon. "I only sang these simple little things to please your brother, as he's not well."
"Thank you," said Eden with gravity. "That was nice of you."
"Oh, now you're laughing at me!" she cried, and filled the room with her laughter.
Alayne came in and sat down on a stiff-backed grandfather's chair. She felt icy before this exuberance. Only with the two spaniels, held by their collars, did she feel any sense of companionship in the room.
When Eden and she were alone, she said: "If your sister thinks she will bring that to pass, she is mistaken. He hates her. I could see it in his eyes."
"How clever you are!" he cried. "You can read him like a book, can't you?" His glance was full of merriment.
