aunt sent to New York for it. The one
downstairs in the drawing room is all right, but I like to have this one
handy, so that I can play whenever the spirit moves me. This is my
bedroom," she continued, pushing aside the silken curtains that
separated the two rooms. The girls exclaimed over the Circassian walnut
furniture and could not decide as to which room was the prettier.

"Eleanor," said Grace solemnly, "you ought to be a very happy girl. You
have everything a heart can wish. Think of poor little Mabel Allison."

"Oh, don't let's think about disagreeable things," said Eleanor lightly.
"Sit down and be comfy and I'll play for you. What shall I play?"

"Do you know the 'Peer Gynt' suite?" asked Grace. "I love 'Anitra's
Dance.'"

Without answering, Eleanor immediately began the "Peer Gynt" music and
played the entire suite with remarkable expression.

"How well you play!" exclaimed Jessica with eager admiration in her
voice, as Eleanor turned around on the stool after she had finished.
"I should love to hear you play on the violin. Anne heard you the
other night, and told us about it."

"I love the violin better than the piano, but it sounds better with a
piano accompaniment. Don't you girls play?"

"Jessica does," chorused her friends.

"Oh, I never could play, after hearing Eleanor," said Jessica blushing.

"Come on," said Eleanor, taking her by the arm and dragging her over to
the piano. "You can accompany me. What do you play?"

"Do you know Raff's 'Cavatina'?" asked Jessica a trifle shyly.

"By heart," answered Eleanor. "I love it. Wait and I'll get the music
for you."

After a moment's search she produced the music, picked up her violin,
and, after tightening a string, announced herself ready.

The girls listened, spellbound. It seemed as though Eleanor's very soul
had entered into the violin. They could not believe that this was the
capricious Eleanor of half an hour before.

"Whatever she may do in future," thought Grace, as she listened to the
last plaintive notes of the "Cavatina," "I'll forgive her for her
music's sake. One has to make allowances for people like her. It is the
claim of the artistic temperament."

"Please play once more," begged Nora. "Then we must go. It's almost six
o'clock."

Eleanor chose Nevin's "Venetian Love Song," and Jessica again
accompanied her.

"You play with considerable expression," said Eleanor, as Jessica rose
from the piano stool.

"How could I help