For I 'm shut up in my study at the other end of the house , Laurie is out a great deal , and the servants are never near the drawing room after nine o'clock . '' Here he rose , as if going , and Beth made up her mind to speak , for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired . `` Please , tell the young ladies what I say , and if they do n't care to come , why , never mind . '' Here a little hand slipped into his , and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude , as she said , in her earnest yet timid way ... `` Oh sir , they do care , very very much ! '' `` Are you the musical girl ? '' he asked , without any startling `` Hey ! '' as he looked down at her very kindly . `` I 'm Beth . I love it dearly , and I 'll come , if you are quite sure nobody will hear me , and be disturbed , '' she added , fearing to be rude , and trembling at her own boldness as she spoke . `` Not a soul , my dear . The house is empty half the day , so come and drum away as much as you like , and I shall be obliged to you . '' `` How kind you are , sir ! '' Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore , but she was not frightened now , and gave the hand a grateful squeeze because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift he had given her . The old gentleman softly stroked the hair off her forehead , and , stooping down , he kissed her , saying , in a tone few people ever heard ... `` I had a little girl once , with eyes like these . God bless you , my dear ! Good day , madam . '' And away he went , in a great hurry . Beth had a rapture with her mother , and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids , as the girls were not home . How blithely she sang that evening , and how they all laughed at her because she woke Amy in the night by playing the piano on her face in her sleep . Next day , having seen both the old and young gentleman out of the house , Beth , after two or three retreats , fairly got in at the side door , and made her way as noiselessly as any mouse to the drawing room where her idol stood .
Quite by accident , of course , some pretty , easy music lay on the piano , and with trembling fingers and frequent stops to listen and look about , XXXXX at last touched the great instrument , and straightway forgot her fear , herself , and everything else but the unspeakable delight which the music gave her , for it was like the voice of a beloved friend .
Amy Beth Laurie evening hair left mind night o'clock people