the piano, sat down in an ostentatiously correct position, requiring
many adjustments and readjustments, and began to play "The Gazelle."

She played prettily, did this young person, who seemed to Split
specially designed to infuriate her. And to-day she played "with
expression," soft-pedaling and lingering upon certain passages in a way
which the Madigans considered shameless.

"Oh, the affected thing! Just listen to her! How she does put on!"
sneered Split to the world at large.

Sissy's lips opened, then closed tightly. She had almost answered, for
no Madigan may be accused of sentimentality and live unavenged. Only a
moment, though, was she at a loss. Then calmly, prettily, she glided
into Split's own particular "piece." She knew this would draw blood. And
it did.

"You sha'n't play it now! You sha'n't!" Split cried, her ungovernable
temper aroused. She dashed impetuously for the piano and tore the sheet
of music from the rack.

It was the thing for which she had suffered so many lessons; for which
she had sat feeling like a mean-spirited imbecile with Sissy's
impertinent finger under her wrist, while all outdoors was calling to
her; for which she had forborne often and often during the week, only to
be more thoroughly bullied on Saturdays. Yet she tore it across and
recklessly trampled it underfoot. Then with her hands over her ears,
lest she hear the imperturbable and maddeningly excellent Sissy play "In
Sweet Dreams" without the notes, Split fled.

Sissy played on till the very last bar; she had an idea that Split might
be ambushed out in the hall. But when she got to the end and heard no
sound from there, she decided that the enemy was indeed vanquished, and
she rose to close the piano. As she did so she got a view of an
elegantly stout and very upright lady coming up the front steps, with a
fair, pale boy by her side.

[Illustration:
"'Go and shake hands properly, like a little gentleman,'
bullied Mrs. Pemberton"]

With an agility commendable in one so round, Sissy dropped beneath the
piano, and, whipping off her apron, proceeded to wipe the dust from the
back legs of the instrument with it. This done, she rammed the apron up
between the wall and the piano, and was seated, breathless, but with a
bit of very dirty white embroidery in her hands, when the lady entered.

"Ah, Cecilia, busy as usual," she said in an important, throaty voice.

"Yes, Mrs. Pemberton," said Sissy, softly.