"Daw-gone it!" he said, at last; and he departed morosely.
Penrod had already begun to "practice" again, and Mr. Williams,
after vain appeals to be permitted to practice in turn, sank into
the wheelbarrow in a state of boredom, not remarkable under the
circumstances. Then Penrod contrived--it may have been
accidental--to produce at one blast two tones which varied in
pitch.
His pride and excitement were extreme though not contagious.
"Listen, Sam!" he shouted. "How's THAT for high?"
The bored Sam made no response other than to rise languidly to
his feet, stretch, and start for home.
Left alone, Penrod's practice became less ardent; he needed the
stimulus of an auditor. With the horn upon his lap he began to
rub the greenish brass surface with a rag. He meant to make this
good ole two-dollar horn of his LOOK like sumpthing!
Presently, moved by a better idea, he left the horn in the stable
and went into the house, soon afterward appearing before his
mother in the library.
"Mamma," he said, complainingly, "Della won't--"
But Mrs. Schofield checked him.
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