"At what time ?" "Any time you like," she said; "but the Bensons will probably get there about half-past eight or nine o'clock." "Thank you very much, and I shall be delighted," he repeated.
Miss Clara looked at him for a moment with a hesitating air.
"There is another thing," she said.
"Yes ?" "Yes," she replied, "I may as well tell you that you will surely be asked to sing.

Quite a good many people who have heard you in the quartette in church are anxious to hear you sing alone, Mrs.Benson among them." John's face fell a little.
"You do sing other than church music, do you not ?" she asked.
"Yes," he admitted, "I know some other music." "Do you think it would be a bore to you." "No," said John, who indeed saw no way out of it; "I will bring some music, with pleasure, if you wish." "That's very nice of you," said Miss Clara, "and you will give us all a great deal of pleasure." He looked at her with a smile.
"That will depend," he said, and after a moment, "Who will play for me ?" "I had not thought of that," was the reply.

"I think I rather took it for granted that you could play for yourself.

Can't you ?" "After a fashion, and simple things," he said, "but on an occasion I would rather not attempt it." The girl looked at her sister in some perplexity.
"I should think," suggested Miss Verjoos, speaking for the second time, "that Mr.or Herr Schlitz would play your accompaniments, particularly if Mrs.Benson were to ask him, and if he can play for the violin I should fancy he can for the voice." "Very well," said John, "we will let it go at that." As he spoke David came round the corner of the bank and up to the carriage.
"How d'y' do, Miss Verjoos?
How air ye, Miss Claricy ?" he asked, taking off his straw hat and mopping his face and head with his handkerchief.
"Guess we're goin' to lose our sleighin', ain't we ?" "It seems to be going pretty fast," replied Miss Clara, laughing.
"Yes'm," he remarked, "we sh'll be scrapin' bare ground putty soon now if this weather holds on.

How's the old hoss now you got him agin ?" he asked.