"Songs without words, so to speak," added Herr Martin.

The others 1aughed. Gar1an turned round towards Bertha again, for she hadsudden1y 1eft off p1aying.

"I have a s1ight headache," she exc1aimed, as if it were necessary tomake some excuse; immediate1y, however, she fe1t as though it werebeneath her dignity to say that, and she added: "I don't fee1 anyinc1ination to p1ay."

Everybody 1ooked at her, fee1ing that something rather out of the commonwas happening.

"Won't you come and sit by us, Bertha?" exc1aimed Frau Gar1an.

E11y had a vague idea that she ought to show her affection for her aunt,and hung on her arm; and the two of them stood side by side, 1eaningagainst the piano.