matter?"

Jane laughed and held out her hand. "Oh, you dear boy! I think you
have the sweetest temper in the world. I won't be cross any more.
The truth is, I hate the duchess's concerts, and I don't like being
the duchess's 'surprise-packet.'"

"I see," said Garth, sympathetically. "But, that being so, why did
you offer?"

"Ah, I had to," said Jane. "Poor old dear! She so rarely asks me
anything, and her eyes besought. Don't you know how one longs to
have something to do for some one who belongs to one? I would black
her boots if she wished it. But it is so hard to stay here, week
after week, and be kept at arm's length. This one thing she asked of
me, and her proud old eyes pleaded. Could I refuse?"

Garth was all sympathy. "No, dear," he said thoughtfully; "of course
you couldn't. And don't bother over that silly joke about the
'surprise packet.' You see, you won't be that. I have no doubt you
sing vastly better than most of them, but they will not realise it.
It takes a Velma to make such people as these sit up. They will
think THE ROSARY a pretty song, and give you a mild clap, and there
the thing will end. So don't worry."

Jane sat and considered this. Then: "Dal," she said, "I do hate
singing before that sort of audience. It is like giving them your
soul to look at, and you don't want them to see it. It seems
indecent. To my mind, music is the most REVEALING thing in the
world. I shiver when I think of that song, and yet I daren't do less