Part 5 (1/2)

Patricia's hopes went down with a flop! Was she being told that she could not study? Had the end come so swiftly? She had a hard time not to cry out with the pain of this horrible fear, and the kind eyes of the experienced Tancredi caught her despairing look.

”Ah, no. It is not that you shall not sing at all,” she said hurriedly.

”It is only that you shall sing the exercises only as yet. We must walk ere we may run. Come, let us see about the breathing now,” and she stood erect and vigorous, motioning Patricia to face her and follow her every movement.

Patricia came out from that interview so bewildered yet so happy that she forgot completely about questioning the teacher as to Rosamond Merton. Elinor, who was waiting for her in the anteroom, saw her s.h.i.+ning face before she spoke, and knew that all had gone well with her.

”Dear Miss Pat,” she said softly, slipping her arm into Patricia's as they went out of the wide front door. ”So it has all come out well, and you are really going to be a singer some day! How glad I am that you have pa.s.sed this first test.”

Patricia was still slightly puzzled, though more confident than she had been before Tancredi had begun her instructions.

”I've had a mighty lucky day, Norn,” she said with real thankfulness.

”I've been put down on the books as a regular pupil at Tancredi's, and--oh, I forgot all about it--I've had a sort of a chance to go into Artemis Lodge, though of course I couldn't take it.”

Elinor agreed with her after hearing the incident. ”Though it is certainly very sweet of her to be so generous,” she said thoughtfully.

”Rosamond Merton, you say her name is. We'll have to ask Doris Leighton about her.”

But, as it happened, they did not have time to put any questions to Doris Leighton. Rosamond Merton was not the sort of girl who cares to postpone interesting events. Miss Pat had piqued her fancy and she took a very determined course to gain her point.

Bruce handed Elinor a note when they reached the studio.

”Messenger boy brought it ten minutes ago,” he explained. ”Said it was urgent, but as I didn't know where to find you, I had to leave it till you came in.”

CHAPTER V

ROSAMOND INSISTS

”What is it, Norn?” asked Patricia rather anxiously.

She eyed the note with an unspoken fear that it might be a message from her new instructor canceling her enrolment, though Elinor's face did not show any consternation as she swiftly ran her eye over the brief sheet.

”Of all things!” she murmured with an amused smile, and then read more carefully, breaking into a ripple of laughter as she finished.

”You certainly have charmed this Rosamond Merton, Miss Pat,” she said with a fond look at the amazed Patricia. ”Listen to this.”

Patricia's look of amazement grew as Elinor read. Rosamond Merton invited them to tea with her in her rooms that afternoon, very prettily insisting that the small sister whose name she thought was Julia, might make one of the party, since it was to be merely a cosy cup of tea to better acquaintance.

”I must say she writes very agreeably,” commented Elinor, scanning the lines critically.

”That's just what she is--agreeable,” declared Patricia, nodding at the word. ”She seems as though she would never take the trouble to be cross with anyone. And she's very pretty.”

”That settles it,” laughed Elinor. ”No matter what must be set aside for it, I see that we must take tea with Rosamond Merton. We must look her over, Judy, and see if we can let our Miss Pat fall in love with her, as I perceive she is on the brink of doing.”

Judith's anxious look made Patricia laugh. ”Don't be afraid I'll make a silly of myself like I did over Miss Warner and Doris Leighton,” she said lightly. ”I'm done with that sort of thing ages and ages ago.”

Elinor was deeply interested in this new adventure, and after a late luncheon and a hasty half hour of breathing practice for Patricia, they got into their afternoon clothes and went to Artemis Lodge again.

”How familiar it looks today,” said Patricia as they rang the s.h.i.+ning bra.s.s bell. ”Isn't it queer how soon you get used to places? I feel quite like an old inmate already.”