Catherine met Ellie's eye and felt the judgement. She felt rather helpless. This was certainly not how she had imagined the lesson to go, but Miss Bellini was one of the best music teachers in the area. She could hardly ask the woman to change her approach just because Ellie wasn't used to this kind of drilling. Instead, she opted for a smile and an encouraging nod. And it seemed to work!

Miss Bellini stopped playing. "That's it, Miss Russell! That's the voice I want to hear. Now, just a little more steady on the breathing. Keep your hand on your belly. Again." And she played the bar up and down.