ummer', Lilac. You can sing that very
pretty." It came from Uncle Joshua.

"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr Martin. "Couldn't possibly be better,
and I'll play it for you. Come along!"

Without more words Lilac found herself hurried out of the room, up the
steps, and on to the platform, with Mr Martin seated at the piano.
Breathless and frightened she stood for a second half uncertain whether
to turn and run away. There were so many faces looking up at her from
below, and she felt so small and unprotected standing there alone in
front of them. Her heart beat fast, her lips were as though fastened
together, how could she possibly sing? Suddenly in the midst of that
dim mass of heads she caught sight of something that encouraged her. It
was Peter's round red face with mouth and eyes open to their widest
extent, and it stood out from all the rest, just as it had done on May
Day. Then it had vexed her to see it, now it was such a comfort that it
filled her with courage. Instead of running away she straightened
herself up, folded her hands neatly in front of her, and took a long
breath. When Mr Martin looked round at her she was able to begin, and
though her voice trembled a little it was sweet and clear, and could be
heard quite to the end of the room. Very soon she forgot her rears
altogether, and felt as much at her ease as though she were singing in
Uncle Joshua's cottage as she had done so often. The audience kept the
most perfect silence, and gazed at her attentively throughout. It was a
very simple little figure in its straight black frock, its red and white
nosegay, and thick, laced boots, and it looked all the more so after the
ribbons and finery of those which had come before it; yet there was a
certain dignity about its very simplicity, and the earnest expression in
the small face showed that Lilac was not thinking of herself, but was
only anxious to sing her song as well as she could. She finished it,
and dropped the straight little curtsy she had been taught at school.
"After all it had not been so bad," she thought with relief, as she
turned to go away in the midst of an outburst of claps and stamps from
the audience. But she was not allowed to go far, for it soon became
evident that they wanted her to sing again; nothing in the whole
programme had created so much excitement as this one little simple song.
They applauded not only in the usual manner but even by shouts and
whistling, and through i