the fifth string(第五根线)-第6章
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more opportune time to tell him；'' she thought。
In the scheme of Diotti's appearance in New York there were to be two
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more concerts。 One was to be given that evening。 Mildred coaxed her
father to accompany her to hear the violinist。 Mr。 Wallace was not fond of
music； ‘‘it had been knocked out of him on the farm up in Vermont； when
he was a boy；'' he would apologetically explain； and besides he had the old
puritanical abhorrence of stage people putting them all in one classas
puppets who danced for played or talked for an idle and unthinking public。
So it was with the thought of a wasted evening that he accompanied
Mildred to the concert。
The entertainment was a repetition of the others Diotti had given； and
at its end； Mildred said to her father： ‘‘Come； I want to congratulate
Signor Diotti in person。''
‘‘That is entirely unnecessary；'' he replied。
‘‘It is my desire；'' and the girl led the unwilling parent back of the
scenes and into Diotti's dressing…room。
Mildred introduced Diotti to her father； who after a few commonplaces
lapsed into silence。 The daughter's enthusiastic interest in Diotti's
performance and her tender solicitude for his weariness after the efforts of
the evening； quickly attracted the attention of Mr。 Wallace and irritated
him exceedingly。
When father and daughter were seated in their carriage and were
hurriedly driving home； he said： ‘‘Mildred； I prefer that you have as little
to say to that man as possible。''
‘‘What do you object to in him？'' she asked。
‘‘Everything。 Of what use is a man who dawdles away his time on a
fiddle； of what benefit is he to mankind？ Do fiddlers build cities？ Do they
delve into the earth for precious metals？ Do they sow the seed and harvest
the grain？ No； no； they are dronesthe barnacles of society。''
‘‘Father； how can you advance such an argument？ Music's votaries
offer no apologies for their art。 The husbandman places the grain within
the breast of Mother Earth for man's material welfare； God places music in
the heart of man for his spiritual development。 In man's spring time； his
bridal day； music means joy。 In man's winter time； his burial day； music
means comfort。 The heaven…born muse has added to the happiness of the
world。 Diotti is a great genius。 His art brings rest and tranquillity to the
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wearied and despairing；'' and she did not speak again until they had
reached the house。
The lights were turned low when father and daughter went into the
drawing…room。 Mr。 Wallace felt that he had failed to convince Mildred of
the utter worthlessness of fiddlers； big or little； and as one dissatisfied with
the outcome of a contest； re…entered the lists。
‘‘He has visited you？''
‘‘Yes； father。''
‘‘Often？''
‘‘Yes； father；'' spoken calmly。
‘‘Often？'' louder and more imperiously repeated the father； as if there
must be some mistake。
‘‘Quite often；'' and she sat down； knowing the catechizing would be
likely to continue for some minutes。
‘‘How many times； do you think？''
She rose； walked into the hallway； took the card basket from the table；
returned and seated herself beside her father； emptying its contents into
her lap。 She picked up a card。 It read ‘‘Angelo Diotti；'' and she called the
name aloud。 She took up another and again her lips voiced the beloved
name。 ‘‘Angelo Diotti；'' she continued； repeating at intervals for a minute。
Then looking at her father： ‘‘He has called thirty…two times； there are
thirty…one cards here and on one occasion he forgot his card…case。''
‘‘Thirty…two！'' said the father； rising angrily and pacing the floor。
‘‘Yes； thirty…two。 I remember all of them distinctly。''
Her father came over to her； half coaxingly； half seriously。 ‘‘Mildred； I
wish his visits to cease； people will imagine there is a romantic attachment
between you。''
‘‘There is； father；'' out it came； ‘‘he loves me and I love him。''
‘‘What！'' shouted Mr。 Wallace； and then severely； ‘‘this must cease
immediately。''
She rose quietly and led her father over to the mantel。 Placing a hand
on each of his shoulders she said：
‘‘Father； I will obey you implicitly if you can name a reasonable
objection to the man I love。 But you can not。 I love him with my whole
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soul。 I love him for the nobility of his character； and because there is none
other in the world for him； nor for me。''
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IX
Old Sanders as boy and man had been in the employ of the banking
and brokerage firm of Wallace Brothers for two generations。 The firm
gradually had advanced his position until now he was confidential adviser
and general manager； besides having an interest in the profits of the
business。
He enjoyed the friendship of Mr。 Wallace； and had been a constant
visitor at his house from the first days of that gentleman's married life。 He
himself was alone in the world； a confirmed bachelor。 He had seen
Mildred creep from babyhood into childhood； and bud from girlhood to
womanhood。 To Mildred he was one of that numerous army of brevet
relations known as ‘‘gran… pop；'' ‘‘pop；'' or ‘‘uncle。'' To her he was Uncle
Sanders。
If the old man had one touch of human nature in him it was a
solicitude for Mildred's futurean authority arrogated to himselfto see
that she married the right man； but even that was directed to her material
gain in this world's goods； and not to any sentimental consideration for her
happiness。 He flattered himself that by timely suggestion he had
‘‘stumped'' at least half a dozen would…be candidates for Mildred's hand。
He pooh…poohed love as a necessity for marital felicity； and would enforce
his argument by quoting from the bard：
‘‘All lovers swear more performance than they are able； and yet
reserve an ability that they never perform； vowing more than the
perfection of ten； and discharging less than the tenth part of one。''
‘‘You can get at a man's income；'' he would say； ‘‘but not at his heart。
Love without money won't travel as far as money without love；'' and many
married people whose bills were overdue wondered if the old fellow was
not right。
He was cold…blooded and generally disliked by the men under him。
The more evil…minded gossips in the bank said he was in league with
‘‘Old Nick。'' That； of course； was absurd； for it does not necessarily follow；
because a man suggests a means looking to an end； disreputable though it
be； that he has Mephistopheles for a silent partner。 The conservative
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element among the employees would not openly venture so far； but rather
thought if his satanic majesty and old Sanders ran a race； the former would
come in a bad second； if he were not distanced altogether。
The old man always reached the office at nine。 Mr。 Wallace usually
arrived a half hour later； seldom earlier； which was so well understood by
Sanders that he was greatly surprised when he walked into the president's
office； the morning after that gentleman had attended Diotti's concert； to
find the head of the firm already there and apparently waiting for him。
‘‘Sanders；'' said the banker； ‘‘I want your advice on a matter of great
importance and concern to me。''
Sanders came across the room and stood beside the desk。
‘‘Briefly as possible； I am much exercised about my daughter。''
The old man moved up a chair and buried himself in it。 Pressing his
elbows tightly against his sides； he drew his neck in； and with the tips of
his right hand fingers consorted and coquetted with their like on the
opposite hand； then he simply asked； ‘‘Who is the man？''
‘‘He is the violinist who has created such a sensation here； Angelo
Diotti。''
‘‘Yes； I've seen the name in print；'' returned the old man。
‘‘He has bewitched Mildred。 I never have seen her show the least
interest in a man before。 She never has appeared to me as an
impressionable girl or one that could easily be won。''
‘‘That is very true；'' ejaculated Sanders； ‘‘she always seemed tractable
and open to reason in all questions of love and courting。 I can recall
several instances where I have set her right by my estimation of men； and
invariably she has accepted my views。''
‘‘And mine until now；'' said the father； and then he recounted his
experience of the night before。 ‘‘I had hoped she would not fall in love；
but be a prop and comfort to me now that I am alone。 I am dismayed at the
prospect before me。''
Then the old man mused： ‘‘In the chrysalis state of girlhood； a parent
arranges all the details of his daughter's future； when and whom she shall
marry。 ‘I shall not allow her to fall in love until she is twenty…three；' says
the fond parent。 ‘I shall not allow her to marry until she is twenty…six；'
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says the fond parent。 ‘The man she marries will be the one I approve of；
and then she will live happy ever after；' concludes the fond parent。''
Deluded parent！ false prophet！ The anarchist； Love； steps in and
disdains all laws； rules and regulations。 When finally the father confronts
the d
