Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tion. She now arose, and turned, with a gracious stnile, to her, saying, as she saw her shrink from the coming ordeal: “My dear, perhaps it is not easy for you to play from memory; but I have quite a collection of new myurte here. Come and select something to play or us.’ : She led the way to the piano, and laid out a dozen or more pieces for Hazel to choose from. The young girl gave ler a grateful glance, accom- panied by alow “Thank you,” and began to turn over the music. It was Dearly all familiar to her, and she told her ee that she would play anything that she ed, The duchess laid two pieces on the rack, giving her another reassuring smile, and then Hazel sat down to her work. She played brilliantly and correctly, and Belle Stewart was charmed to her side before she was half through, watching her skillful fingers with admiring eyes. “Tf IT could learn to play like /hal, I wouldn't mind the practice,” she said, when Hazel paused; ‘but it is just dreadful to have to sit hour after hour drum- ming away at a. dull exercise, and counting ‘one, two, three, four over and over.” “You dislike the counting?” said Hazel, siniling. “T—hale it!" “T have one collection of exercises. whieh I think yon would not call dil; they are prettier than many pieces.” “But you have to cowl all the same.” “Oh, yes: one must keep time, to be a good mu- sician.’ “But it is so tedious!” complained Miss Belle. Hazel glanced at some fancy work that the girl held in her hands, “Do you like to crochet?" she asked. | “Yes, indeed; it is delightful work.” S™micbooks.com