She knew from Dino that Agnes was not much more than a year
older than she was. She listened with admiration to the beautiful
melodies that were pouring forth from the instrument. Finally the
mother returned. She had made her nightly visit to Dino and had had
several things to say to him.
"Mama," Agnes called to her eagerly, "I am playing all the merry pieces
I know to-night, for I have just finished my long composition."
"You are right, Agnes. And how are you getting along with your painting,
Nika?" asked the mother.
Nika replied quite sadly that she had hoped to finish it that day, but
the days were very short now and she could not paint by lamp light.
Her mother should see how little her work still lacked.
"If I had one hour more of daylight, I could finish it," she sighed.
Nika placed a large painting under the bright lamp. It somewhat
resembled the beautiful pictures which decorated the walls of the room.
The colors in it were perfectly wonderful, and Cornelli had never
before seen such a lovely picture.
Pages:
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196