"
"Is it not just possible the violin may be the instrument that is out
of time?" suggested Talboys, insidiously.
"No," said David, simply, "I was right enough."
"Let us try again, Mr. Dodd. Play me a few bars first in exact time.
Thank you. Now."
"All went merry as a marriage bell" for a page and a half; then David,
fiddling away, cried out, "You are getting too fast; 'ri tum tiddy,
iddy ri tum ti;" then, by stamping and accenting very strongly, he
kept the piano from overflowing its bounds. The piece ended. Eve
rubbed her hands. "Now you'll catch it, Mr. David!"
"I am afraid I gave you a great deal of trouble, Mr. Dodd."
_"En revanche,_ you gave us a great deal of pleasure," put in Mr.
Talboys.
Lucy turned her head and smiled graciously. "But piano-forte players
play so much by themselves, they really forget the awful importance of
time."
"I profit by your confession that they do sometimes play by
themselves," said Mr. Talboys. "Be merciful, and let us hear you by
yourself."' Eve turned as red as fire.
David backed the request sincerely.
Lucy played a piece composed expressly for the piano by a pianist of
the day. David sat on her left hand and watched intently how she did
it.
When it was over, Talboys did a bit of rapture; Eve another.
"That is playing."
"I would not have believed it if I had not seen it done," said David.
"Eve, you should have seen her beautiful fingers thread in and out
among the keys; it was like white fire dancing; and as for her hand,
it is not troubled with joints like ours, I should say.
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