"Let's have this, Missy." He turned to his grandmother. "Ought to
hear her do this rag--I've been teaching her double-bass."

Missy shrank back as he placed the rag-time on the music-rest.

"Oh, I'd rather not--to-day."

Pete smiled down at her--his amiable but condescending smile.

"What's the matter with to-day?" he asked.

Missy blushed again.

"Oh, I don't know--I just don't feel that way, I guess."

"Don't feel that way?" repeated Pete. "You're temperamental, are
you? How do you feel, Missy?"

Missy feared she was letting herself in for embarrassment; but this
was a holy subject. So she made herself answer:

"I guess I feel religious."

Pete shouted. "She feels religious! That's a good one! She guesses
she--"

"Peter, you should be ashamed of yourself!" reproved his
grandmother.

"She's a scream!" he insisted. "Religious! That kid!"