tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第3章
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used to live in the same house with you once； but that is long ago now。〃
Gustav Olsonto be sure； he was the porter's son in the house； where
his mother had once during his childhood； taken a flat。 He well
remembered having clandestinely traded jack… knives and buttons with
him； in spite of the frequent warnings he had received to have nothing to
do with him； for Gustav； with his broad freckled face and red hair； was
looked upon by the genteel inhabitants of the upper flats as rather a
disreputable character。 He had once whipped the son of a colonel who
had been impudent to him； and thrown a snow…ball at the head of a new…
fledged lieutenant； which offenses he had duly expiated at a house of
correction。 Since that time he had vanished from Halfdan's horizon。 He
had still the same broad freckled face； now covered with a lusty growth of
coarse red beard； the same rebellious head of hair； which refused to yield
to the subduing influences of the comb； the same plebeian hands and feet；
and uncouth clumsiness of form。 But his linen was irreproachable； and a
certain dash in his manner； and the loud fashionableness of his attire； gave
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
unmistakable evidences of prosperity。
〃Come； Bjerk；〃 said he in a tone of good… fellowship； which was not
without its sting to the idealistic republican； 〃you must take up a better
business than selling yesterday's ‘Tribune。' That won't pay here； you
know。 Come along to our office and I will see if something can't be done
for you。〃
〃But I should be sorry to give you trouble；〃 stammered Halfdan；
whose native pride； even in his present wretchedness； protested against
accepting a favor from one whom he had been wont to regard as his
inferior。
〃Nonsense； my boy。 Hurry up； I haven't much time to spare。 The
office is only two blocks from here。 You don't look as if you could afford
to throw away a friendly offer。〃
The last words suddenly roused Halfdan from his apathy； for he felt
that they were true。 A drowning man cannot afford to make nice
distinctionscannot afford to ask whether the helping hand that is
extended to him be that of an equal or an inferior。 So he swallowed his
humiliation and threaded his way through the bewildering turmoil of
Broadway； by the side of his officious friend。
They entered a large； elegantly furnished office； where clerks with
sleek and severely apathetic countenances stood scribbling at their desks。
〃You will have to amuse yourself as best you can；〃 said Olson。 〃Mr。
Van Kirk will be here in twenty minutes。 I haven't time to entertain you。〃
A dreary half hour passed。 Then the door opened and a tall；
handsome man； with a full grayish beard； and a commanding presence；
entered and took his seat at a desk in a smaller adjoining office。 He
opened； with great dispatch； a pile of letters which lay on the desk before
him； called out in a sharp； ringing tone for a clerk； who promptly appeared；
handed him half…a…dozen letters； accompanying each with a brief direction；
took some clean paper from a drawer and fell to writing。 There was
something brisk； determined； and business…like in his manner； which made
it seem very hopeless to Halfdan to appear before him as a petitioner。
Presently Olson entered the private office； closing the door behind him；
and a few minutes later re…appeared and summoned Halfdan into the
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
chief's presence。
〃You are a Norwegian； I hear；〃 said the merchant； looking around over
his shoulder at the supplicant； with a preoccupied air。 〃You want work。
What can you do？〃
What can you do？ A fatal question。 But here was clearly no
opportunity for mental debate。 So； summoning all his courage； but
feeling nevertheless very faint； he answered：
〃I have passed both examen artium and philosophicum；＇2＇ and got my
laud clear in the former； but in the latter haud on the first point。〃
＇2＇ Examen artium is the entrance examination to the Norwegian
University； and philosophicum the first degree。 The ranks given at these
are Laudabilis prae ceteris （in student's parlance； prae）； laudabilis or laud；
haud illaudabilis； or haud； etc。
Mr。 Van Kirk wheeled round on his chair and faced the speaker：
〃That is all Greek to me；〃 he said； in a severe tone。 〃Can you keep
accounts？〃
〃No。 I am afraid not。〃
Keeping accounts was not deemed a classical accomplishment in
Norway。 It was only 〃trade… rats〃 who troubled themselves about such
gross things； and if our Norseman had not been too absorbed with the
problem of his destiny； he would have been justly indignant at having such
a question put to him。
〃Then you don't know book…keeping？〃
〃I think not。 I never tried it。〃
〃Then you may be sure you don't know it。 But you must certainly
have tried your hand at something。 Is there nothing you can think of
which might help you to get a living？〃
〃I can play the pianoandand the violin。〃
〃Very well； then。 You may come this afternoon to my house。 Mr。
Olson will tell you the address。 I will give you a note to Mrs。 Van Kirk。
Perhaps she will engage you as a music teacher for the children。 Good
morning。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
IV。
At half…past four o'clock in the afternoon； Halfdan found himself
standing in a large； dimly lighted drawing…room； whose brilliant
upholstery； luxurious carpets； and fantastically twisted furniture dazzled
and bewildered his senses。 All was so strange； so strange； nowhere a
familiar object to give rest to the wearied eye。 Wherever he looked he
saw his shabbily attired figure repeated in the long crystal mirrors； and he
became uncomfortably conscious of his threadbare coat； his uncouth boots；
and the general incongruity of his appearance。 With every moment his
uneasiness grew； and he was vaguely considering the propriety of a
precipitate flight； when the rustle of a dress at the farther end of the room
startled him； and a small； plump lady； of a daintily exquisite form； swept
up toward him； gave a slight inclination of her head； and sank down into
an easy…chair：
〃You are Mr。 ； the Norwegian； who wishes to give music lessons？〃
she said； holding a pair of gold…framed eyeglasses up to her eyes； and
running over the note which she held in her hand。 It read as follows：
DEAR MARTHA；The bearer of this note is a young Norwegian； I
forgot to ascertain his name； a friend of Olson's。 He wishes to teach
music。 If you can help the poor devil and give him something to do； you
will oblige； Yours； H。 V。 K。
Mrs。 Van Kirk was evidently； by at least twelve years； her husband's
junior； and apparently not very far advanced in the forties。 Her blonde
hair； which was freshly crimped； fell lightly over her smooth； narrow
forehead； her nose； mouth and chin had a neat distinctness of outline； her
complexion was either naturally or artificially perfect； and her eyes； which
were of the purest blue； had； owing to their near…sightedness； a certain
pinched and scrutinizing look。 This look； which was without the
slightest touch of severity； indicating merely a lively degree of interest；
was further emphasized by three small perpendicular wrinkles； which
deepened and again relaxed according to the varying intensity of
observation she bestowed upon the object which for the time engaged her
attention。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃Your name； if you please？〃 said Mrs。 Van Kirk； having for awhile
measured her visitor with a glance of mild scrutiny。
〃Halfdan Bjerk。〃
〃Half…dan B； how do you spell that？〃
〃B…j…e…r…k。〃
〃B…jerk。 Well； but I mean； what is your name in English？〃
Halfdan looked blank； and blushed to his ears。
〃I wish to know；〃 continued the lady energetically； evidently anxious
to help him out； 〃what your name would mean in plain English。 Bjerk； it
certainly must mean something。〃
〃Bjerk is a treea birch…tree。〃
〃Very well； Birch；that is a very respectable name。 And your first
name？ What did you say that was？
〃H…a…l…f…d…a…n。〃
〃Half Dan。 Why not a whole Dan and be done with it？ Dan Birch；
or rather Daniel Birch。 Indeed； that sounds quite Christian。〃
〃As you please； madam；〃 faltered the victim；； looking very unhappy。
〃You will pardon my straightforwardness； won't you？ B…jerk。 I
could never pronounce that； you know。〃
〃Whatever may be agreeable to you； madam； will be sure to please
me。〃
〃That is very well said。 And you will find that it always pays to try to
please me。 And you wish to teach music？ If you have no objection I
will call my oldest daughter。 She is an excellent judge of music； and if
your playing meets with her approval； I will engage you； as my husband
suggests； not to teach Edith； you under
