He finished and turned towards her a moment. “Possibly not a very high order of art,” he said; “a little too ‘easy,’ perhaps, like the Bougereau, but ‘Consolation’ should appeal very simply and directly, after all. Do you care for Beethoven?”

“I⁠—I am afraid⁠—” began Laura, but he had continued without waiting for her reply.

“You remember this? The ‘ Appassionata ,’ the F minor sonata⁠—just the second movement.”

But when he had finished Laura begged him to continue.

“Please go on,” she said. “Play anything. You can’t tell how I love it.”