was worth more than
money. She must work hard and show that she appreciated the master's
kindness.

Besides these lessons, she studied harmony and practiced solfeggio at
the Conservatory. Her every hour was taken up with something. When her
fingers were weary with playing she could write out her exercises in
harmony.

So the days and weeks slipped away. Busy over her studies she hardly
noticed that the winter had come again till she began to need warmer
clothing. She went to aunt Caroline. Mother was busy on some embroidery.
It was strange how much time mother gave to that work now. She had not
done so at Nantes. Aunt Caroline gave her an old dress that had been
mended several times. Camilla put it on without remark. She thought it
odd, that there was no new dress for the winter but said nothing.
Somehow things seemed to be changed. Her father was discouraged and her
mother never went out, and worked hard all day at embroidery. What had
happened? She could not tell.

CHAPTER IV.

THE WOLF GROWLS.

It was a busy life for Camilla. As the winter advanced her hours of
study increased. More practice at home and more difficult lessons at the
school. Studies from Rode, Baillot, Fiorillo, Viotti, Kreutzer, Sporha
and the great masters of the violin, were taken up in turn. It was
designed that she should become acquainted with all the master works of
the day. In addition to regular studies in scales, finger exercises and
the like, she went through all the works of the masters that she might
become familiar with their style and learn to appreciate the best art.
There were no trifling songs, no silly pieces designed to show how fast
she could scrabble through a great many notes. Nothing of this kind
allowed. Solid work, grand concertos, sonatas and solos passed under her
hand in review and in an artistic atmosphere, she began to grow to the
stature of an artist while only a child.

The boys in the class soon laid aside their rude manners and forgot
their jealousy in admiration. Massart laughed at them and said: "Fie!
Boys! The hen is beating the roosters." Much truth was hidden in the
master's pleasantry. Camilla was rapidly distancing them all. She was
the favorite scholar. She had the advantage of Massart's private
instruction three times a week and exhibited an aptitude for the work
that advanced her quickly to the head of the class. This was an honor,
for it must be remembered, that these boys had been selecte