. The girls used to ask her to improvise. Kathleen could
improvise in almost any style, in almost any fashion. She could make the
piano sob with her heart-rendering notes; and again she could bring
forth music clear and fairy-like. Again she would lead the tender and
solemn strains of the march; and again she would dance over the keys so
lightly, so ravishingly, that the girls kept time with their feet to her
notes. The music mistress was anxious that Kathleen should try for a
musical scholarship, and she had some ideas of doing so herself. But
to-day she felt cross, and even her music was at fault.

"I can't do it," she said, looking Miss Spicer full in the face. "It
means such drudgery, and I don't believe I'd play a bit better if I
did."

"That is certainly not the case, Kathleen," said Miss Spicer. "Knowledge
must be of assistance. You have great talent; if you add to that real
musical knowledge you can do almost anything."

"But I don't think I much care to. I can play on the piano to imitate
any birds that ever sung at home, and father loves that. I can play all
the dead-marches to make mother cry, and I can play--oh, such dance
music for Aunt Katie O'Flynn! It doesn't matter that I should know more,
does it?"

"I can't agree with you. It would be a very great pleasure to me if I
saw you presented with a musical scholarship."

"Would it?" said Kathleen, glancing at the thin and careworn face of the
music teacher.

"You don't know what it would mean to me," answered Miss Spicer. "It is
seldom that one has the pleasure of teaching real talent, and I can't
say how refreshing it is to me to hear you play as you do. But I want
you to improve; I want you to be a credit to me."

"I'd like to please you, of course," said Kathleen. She spoke gently,
and then she added: "But there is only one piano at the Tennants', and
that is in the drawing-room, and Alice or the boys or Mrs. Tennant are
always there. I have not many opportunities to practice."

"I live in the same terrace," said Miss Spicer eagerly, "and my piano is
hardly ever used. If you only would come and make use of it. There is a
fire in my sitting-room, and you could come at any hour whenever you
have a fancy. Will you? It would be a great pleasure to me."

"You are very kind. Yes, I will come."

Kathleen bent towards the music mistress and, somewhat to that lady's
astonishment, printed a kiss on her forehead. The kiss went right down
into Miss Spicer