as mentioned.

"She is a blessed little hypocrite, and that is the whole of it," was
Marion's mental comment. "That sort of hypocrisy is worth studying. It
is as natural to Flossy as that lovely pink on her cheek; but I am
afraid I should have to acquire it; I don't feel interested in other
people's affairs; now, that is a fact. Why should she? In the first
place, I know it is natural for her to like to please people; that is
the beginning of it; she has that advantage over me, for she was always
so, and I always _wasn't_ so. But she has something else; she did not
care once to please such as these rough boys of hers, at least they were
rough when she started the refining process; how she had worked for
them; I never realized it so much as to-night. It is just this: she has
sanctified her power of pleasing, and put it to a grand use in fishing
for souls. Meantime, I have some degree of power of that kind, though it
doesn't show in the same way. But I am not sure I have thought of it,
with a view to using it for such work; also, I dare say one can
cultivate an interest in other people if they try. I mean to try. I
know one way in which I can please people, I can sing."

Whereupon she immediately sought Ruth and proposed music, herself going
after Rich. Johnson to come and sing tenor, and bidding him bring a
friend to sing bass. Then such music as they had that evening, was
certainly never heard at a party at Mr. Shipley's house before.

The music room was a little bower of a spot at the left of the parlors.
It was not only the music room but the flower room; at least there were
vines and plants and blooming flowers in the windows, festooning the
curtains, hanging from lovely wire baskets, a profusion everywhere.
Thither went Ruth, Marion, and the two young men who went in silence
from very astonishment over this new invitation. In silence and
embarrassment, believing in their hearts that they could not sing at
all. As for Marion, she knew better. She had stood near them in
Sunday-school.

Ruth swept the piano clear of all sheet music and substituted the Bliss
and Sankey Gospel hymns, and Marion passed a book to each, naming a
page, and instantly her full, grand voice joined Ruth's music. Very
faint were the tenor and bass accompaniments; but as the first verse
closed and they entered upon the second, the melody had gotten
possession of their hearts, and they let out their voices without
knowing it, so that when the p