STRING CROSS

"You had practiced, on this, in preparation for the summer program, hadn't you, my dear?"

"Of course, madame."

"And you had played this piece, among others, correct, my darling?"

"Doubtless, madame."

"Thus, my sweet, I am shocked, shocked, to find that the fingerboard is apparently an inch short!"

"Oh, madame!  I had supposed, I guess, that those notes were to be played on the string, as no other inference occurred to me at that time! Mon Dieu!"

"Thank you, my girl, for that explanation."