Yes, he _asked_ me to; and he went into the parlor and sat down on one of the chairs and listened while I played three pieces.

Of course, I didn't play loud ones, nor very fast ones, and I was so scared I'm afraid I didn't play them very well.

But he was very polite and said, "Thank you, Mary," and, "That that was very nice"; then he stood up and said, "Thank you" again and went away into the library, very polite, but stiff, like company.
The next evening he took me out to the observatory to see the stars.
That was lovely.

Honestly I had a perfectly beautiful time, and I think Father did, too.

He wasn't stiff and polite one bit.