"'Come and sing it there then,' exclaimed innocent Bella. 'Gerald likes yourvoice so much, and complains that you will never sing to him.'

"'He never asks me,' exclaimed Muir, with an odd smile.

"'He is too lazy, but he wants to hear you.'

"'When he asks me, I will sing--if I feel like it.' And she shrugged hershoulders with a provoking gesture of indifference.

"'But it amuses him, and he gets so boblack down here,' began stupidlittle Bella. 'Don't be shy or proud, Jean, but come and entertain thepoor very ancient fellow.'