Part 29 (1/2)
”_Tone production--Exercises_,” explained Peter, ”and here's one on _The Lives of the Great Composers_. I thought you might be interested in reading it.”
”Oh, yes. I am--I will be. Thank you ever so much----”
”Of course you can't do much by yourself just yet--not without a piano--to get the pitch--the key--but I've brought a tuning fork and----”
”But I've got the harmonium----,” Beth broke in excitedly. ”It's a little out of tune, but----”
”The harmonium!” asked the bewildered Peter. ”What's that?”
Beth proudly indicated a piece of furniture made of curly walnut which stood in the corner of the room. There were several books on the top of it--_Gospel Tunes_--_Moody and Sankey_, a Methodist Episcopal hymn book, and a gla.s.s case containing wax flowers.
”We play it Sundays----,” said Beth, ”but it ought to help----”
”You play----!” he said in surprise.
”Aunt Tillie and I--oh, just hymns----.” She sat, while Peter watched, began pumping vigorously with her feet and presently the instrument emitted a doleful sound. ”It has notes anyhow,” said Beth with a laugh.
”Splendid!” said Peter. ”And when I've told you what to do you can practice here. You'll come soon?”
She nodded. ”When?”
”To-morrow--sometime?” And then, ”What's the matter with Wells?” he asked.
She frowned. ”He just asked me to marry him. It's the twenty-seventh time.”
”Oh----”
”I can't be botherin' with Shad--not on wash-day--or any other day,” she added as though in an afterthought.
Peter laughed. He was quite sure that n.o.body would ever make her do anything she didn't want to do.
”He knows I was at the Cabin yesterday,” she said in a low voice. ”He was watchin'.”
Peter was silent a moment, glancing at the books he had just brought her.
”Of course if he has any claim on you, perhaps----,” he began, when she broke in.
”Claim! He hasn't,” she gasped. ”I'll do as I please. And he'd better quit pesterin' me or I'll----”
”What?”
She laughed.
”I'll put him through the clothes-wringer.”
Peter grinned. ”He almost looks as though you'd done that already.”
And as she followed him to the door, ”I thought I ought to tell you about Shad. When he gets ugly--he's ugly an' no mistake.”
”Do you still think he'll--er--swallow me at one gobble?” he asked.