I hope your
mother won't mind my touching this splendid piano."
"What on earth is the girl afraid of? I have no desire to eat her,"
Richard thought to himself, continuing to observe Esther's frightened
expression and nervous manner, but only answering good-naturedly:
"Certainly she won't mind. Please use the piano whenever you like, for
Betty hates practicing and I don't care much for a man musician,
especially a poor one, though I love music."
Just for a moment the newcomer's timidity vanished and her smile of
pleasure, showing her big, strong mouth with its white teeth, relieved
her face of its entire plainness. "I should love it more than anything
in the world; would you mind asking your mother if I may? I am afraid
to ask her."
"But not afraid of asking me?" Richard laughed; he had made his
suggestion without any special thought, but the girl might as well be
allowed to bang at their piano if she liked. Should she get it out of
order why it could soon be straightened out again. And then kindness to
persons less fortunate than himself was second nature with Richard
Ashton.
"Here is the mater coming, I will ask her at once," he returned, and
then seeing Esther's unspoken look of entreaty, as he went forward to
open the door for his mother, he silently agreed to postpone his
request.
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