The one other exceptional talent, you already guess, was music.  When the fact that Caterina had a remarkable ear for music, and a still more remarkable voice, attracted Lady Cheverel’s notice, the discovery was very welcome both to her and Sir Christopher.  Her musical education became at once an object of interest.  Lady Cheverel devoted much time to it; and the rapidity of Tina’s progress surpassing all hopes, an Italian singing-master was engaged, for several years, to spend some months together at Cheverel Manor.  This unexpected gift made a great alteration in Caterina’s position.  After those first years in which little girls are petted like puppies and kittens, there comes a time when it seems less obvious what they can be good for, especially when, like Caterina, they give no particular promise of cleverness or beauty; and it is not surprising that in that uninteresting period there was no particular plan formed as to her future position.  She could always help Mrs. Sharp, supposing she were fit for nothing else, as she grew up; but now, this rare gift of song endeared her to Lady Cheverel, who loved music above all things, and it associated her at once with the pleasures of the drawing-room.  Insensibly she came to be regarded as one of the family, and the servants began to understand that Miss Sarti was to be a lady after all.

‘And the raight on’t too,’ said Mr. Bates, ’for she hasn’t the cut of a gell as must work for her bread; she’s as nesh an’ dilicate as a paich-blossom—­welly laike a linnet, wi’ on’y joost body anoof to hold her voice.’

But long before Tina had reached this stage of her history, a new era had begun for her, in the arrival of a younger companion than any she had hitherto known.  When she was no more than seven, a ward of Sir Christopher’s—­a lad of fifteen, Maynard Gilfil by name—­began to spend his vacations at Cheverel Manor, and found there no playfellow so much to his mind as Caterina.  Maynard was an affectionate lad, who retained a propensity to white rabbits, pet squirrels, and guinea-pigs, perhaps a little beyond the age at which young gentlemen usually look down on such pleasures as puerile.  He was also much given to fishing, and to carpentry, considered as a fine art, without any base view to utility.  And in all these pleasures it was his delight to have Caterina as his companion, to call her little pet names, answer her wondering questions, and have her toddling after him as you may have seen a Blenheim spaniel trotting after a large setter.  Whenever Maynard went back to school, there was a little scene of parting.

’You won’t forget me, Tina, before I come back again?  I shall leave you all the whip-cord we’ve made; and don’t you let Guinea die.  Come, give me a kiss, and promise not to forget me.’