Part 23 (1/2)
”And then, Father, I believe that it's better not to be sokeyed up, as Mother says, and wanting to beat.”
”The habit of success is a good thing, Betty.”
Betty pondered a moment. ”I see what you mean. It's only too easy to let down.”
”Yes, and when one studies a subject there is more satisfaction in really covering the ground, being accurate, I mean, not just having a sort of hazy idea.”
”Father, there's too much! You just can't get it all.”
”You have done pretty well so far, my child. I am satisfied with your grades. Isn't there always an honor roll?”
”Yes, and I'm on it, so far.”
”Then that is enough. You need not try to beat anybody. Wasn't that the trouble with your friend that copied your answers?”
”Yes. I wouldn't do that, of course, but there is a sort of nervousness about reciting well and making an impression on the teacher, whether you have your lesson or haven't had a chance to get it real well. And sometimes you recite when you don't know much.”
”I see. It is a problem, Betty. I see nothing for it but to make a good general plan, not including too much, then work it out every day the best you can. But it's the little decisions every day that count in anything. I have it in business too. And I wouldn't let down altogether in the ideals of hard work and getting lessons. It's chiefly in putting your mind on it when you are working, isn't it?”
”A good deal.”
”You would really like to be in that orchestra, wouldn't you, Betty?”
Betty looked up at the smiling face of her father, who wasn't so very old, after all. He had a fellow feeling!
”Didn't you take a few violin lessons once?”
”Yes, when that college girl taught a cla.s.s for a while, but I can't _play_, Father. They wouldn't _look_ at me for the orchestra!”
”Probably not now; but if you took more lessons, and of a proper teacher this summerhow about it?”
”I might,” said Betty, dropping her flowers in her lap to clap her hands. ”Would you _let_ me?”
”Would you like it as much as that?”
”I'd love it!”
”Then we shall see about it at once. I'm going to send your Mother and Amy Lou to your grandmother's this summer, but not all of you could go there. d.i.c.k and Doris might take turns. And how would you like to keep house for me, practice violin, and get taken on rides to give you an occasional breath of the country?”
”That would be great. I'm not a good housekeeper, though.”
”We'll never tell anybody how we keep house, Betty, and I'll be 'boss.'
We'll drive over to the Conservatory, Sat.u.r.day, sign you up for violin with somebodycome on child. Gather up your flowers. We must go home.”
Mr. Lee sprang to his feet, gave a hand to Betty, who did not need it, but accepted it.
”But _Father_, I don't know how good the old violin is and the bow is terrible. It never did do what it ought to! How _can_ I begin?”
”The trouble with the 'old violin' is not that it is 'old,' Betty,”