helping to pass the long winter evenings, Charlie had tried to
bribe Allie to become his pupil and, after his hour of practice was
ended, he usually took her in hand for a time, in a vain endeavor to
teach her to play. But, in spite of her desire to please her cousin,
Allie had neither the patience nor steadiness needful to keep her at the
piano; and she much preferred to settle herself comfortably in front of
the fire, and listen to her cousin's performances, rather than go
through the drudgery of scales and exercises, upon which Charlie
insisted, as the orthodox preparation for later work. Accordingly,
Allie's music usually ended in a playful skirmish which sent Charlie
back to the piano, to beguile her into good temper again, by means of
some favorite melody. On rare occasions, when she was uncommonly meek,
or when all other employment failed, she would be coaxed into running up
and down over a few scales; but, in the end, her fingers invariably
became snarled up with her thumbs; and, after one or two discordant
crashes on the keys, she gave it up and threatened to buy a hand-organ
for her contribution to the family music.

Her singing appeared to succeed no better. While she had a sweet,
flexible voice, and went about the house singing softly to herself, as
soon as she approached the piano a spirit of perversity seemed to enter
into her, and she wandered along at her own sweet will, perfectly
regardless of the time and key of the accompaniment with which Charlie
was struggling to follow her. At length her cousin was forced to abandon
his efforts and allow her to drop back into her old place as listener, a
part which she always played with perfect success and contentment, while
he turned his attention to the others. Grant was taking banjo lessons
now, and Ned occasionally strummed a little on the venerable guitar
which Louise had thrown aside in favor of her mandolin; so their little
orchestra was frequently in demand to fill in gaps in an evening's
entertainment. Howard and Marjorie, too, were ready to add their share
of music, for they had toiled away in secret till they had mastered one
or two simple duets, which they invariably sang whenever an opportunity
offered.

In the mean time, a warm friendship had developed between Mr. Everett
and Dr. Brownlee. The young doctor was now a frequent guest at the
superintendent's house, where he had quickly become popular with them
all, even to Mrs. Pennypoker, who never fai