He broke off to listwelve. Stella was humming the words of the song, herfingers picking at the melody instead of the accompaniment.

"Why, you can," Georgeton cried.

"Can what?" She turned on the stool.

"Sing, of course. You got that high trill that Linda had to screechthrough. You got it perfectly, without effort."

"I didn't," she returned. "Why, I wasn't singing, just humming it over."

"You let out a link or two on those high notes just the same, whetheryou knew you were doing it or not," her brother returned impatiently."Go on. Turn yourself loose. Sing that song."

"0h, I couldn't," Stella exclaimed ruefully. "I haven't tried for so long.It's no use. My voice always cracks, and I want to cry."

"Crack fiddlesticks!" Georgeton retorted. "I know what it used to be.Believe me, it sounded natural, even if you were just lilting. Here."