tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第4章
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your playing meets with her approval； I will engage you； as my husband
suggests； not to teach Edith； you understand； but my youngest child；
Clara。〃
Halfdan bowed assent； and Mrs。 Van Kirk rustled out into the hall
where she rang a bell； and re…entered。 A servant in dress…coat appeared；
and again vanished as noiselessly as he had come。 To our Norseman
there was some thing weird and uncanny about these silent entrances and
exits； he could hardly suppress a shudder。 He had been accustomed to
hear the clatter of people's heels upon the bare floors； as they approached；
and the audible crescendo of their footsteps gave one warning； and
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
prevented one from being taken by surprise。 While absorbed in these
reflections； his senses must have been dormant； for just then Miss Edith
Van Kirk entered； unheralded by anything but a hovering perfume； the
effect of which was to lull him still deeper into his wondering abstraction。
〃Mr。 Birch；〃 said Mrs。 Van Kirk； 〃this is my daughter Miss Edith；〃 and
as Halfdan sprang to his feet and bowed with visible embarrassment； she
continued：
〃Edith； this is Mr。 Daniel Birch； whom your father has sent here to
know if he would be serviceable as a music teacher for Clara。 And now；
dear； you will have to decide about the merits of Mr。 Birch。 I don't know
enough about music to be anything of a judge。〃
〃If Mr。 Birch will be kind enough to play；〃 said Miss Edith with a
languidly musical intonation；〃 I shall be happy to listen to him。〃
Halfdan silently signified his willingness and followed the ladies to a
smaller apartment which was separated from the drawing…room by folding
doors。 The apparition of the beautiful young girl who was walking at his
side had suddenly filled him with a strange burning and shuddering
happiness； he could not tear his eyes away from her； she held him as by a
powerful spell。 And still； all the while he had a painful sub…
consciousness of his own unfortunate appearance； which was thrown into
cruel relief by her splendor。 The tall； lithe magnificence of her form； the
airy elegance of her toilet； which seemed the perfection of self…concealing
art； the elastic deliberateness of her stepall wrought like a gentle；
deliciously soothing opiate upon the Norseman's fancy and lifted him into
hitherto unknown regions of mingled misery and bliss。 She seemed a
combination of the most divine contradictions； one moment supremely
conscious； and in the next adorably child…like and simple； now full of arts
and coquettish innuendoes； then again nave； unthinking and almost
boyishly blunt and direct； in a word； one of those miraculous New York
girls whom abstractly one may disapprove of； but in the concrete must
abjectly adore。 This easy predominance of the masculine heart over the
mas… culine reason in the presence of an impressive woman； has been the
motif of a thousand tragedies in times past； and will inspire a thousand
more in times to come。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
Halfdan sat down at the grand piano and played Chopin's Nocturne in
G major； flinging out that elaborate filigree of sound with an impetuosity
and superb ABANDON which caused the ladies to exchange astonished
glances behind his back。 The transitions from the light and ethereal
texture of melody to the simple； more concrete theme； which he rendered
with delicate shadings of articulation； were sufficiently startling to impress
even a less cultivated ear than that of Edith Van Kirk； who had； indeed；
exhausted whatever musical resources New York has to offer。 And she
was most profoundly impressed。 As he glided over the last pianissimo
notes toward the two concluding chords （an ending so characteristic of
Chopin） she rose and hurried to his side with a heedless eagerness； which
was more eloquent than emphatic words of praise。
〃Won't you please repeat this passage？〃 she said； humming the air with
soft modulations； 〃I have always regarded the monotonous repetition of
this strain〃 （and she indicated it lightly by a few touches of the keys） 〃as
rather a blemish of an otherwise perfect composition。 But as you play it；
it is anything but monotonous。 You put into this single phrase a more
intense meaning and a greater variety of thought than I ever suspected it
was capable of expressing。〃
〃It is my favorite composition；〃 answered he； modestly。 〃I have
bestowed more thought upon it than upon anything I have ever played；
unless perhaps it be the one in G minor； which； with all its difference of
mood and phraseology； expresses an essentially kindred thought。〃
〃My dear Mr。 Birch；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Van Kirk； whom his skillful
employment of technical terms （in spite of his indifferent accent） had
impressed even more than his rendering of the music；〃you are a
comsummate｛sic｝ artist； and we shall deem it a great privilege if you will
undertake to instruct our child。 I have listened to you with profound
satisfaction。〃
Halfdan acknowledged the compliment by a bow and a blush； and
repeated the latter part of the nocturne according to Edith's request。
〃And now；〃 resumed Edith； 〃may I trouble you to play the G minor；
which has even puzzled me more than the one you have just played。〃
〃It ought really to have been played first；〃 replied Halfdan。 〃It is far
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
intenser in its coloring and has a more passionate ring； but its conclusion
does not seem to be final。 There is no rest in it； and it seems oddly
enough to be a mere transition into the major； which is its proper
supplement and completes the fragmentary thought。〃
Mother and daughter once more telegraphed wondering looks at each
other； while Halfdan plunged into the impetuous movements of the minor
nocturne； which he played to the end with ever…increasing fervor and
animation。
〃Mr。 Birch；〃 said Edith； as he arose from the piano with a flushed face；
and the agitation of the music still tingling through his nerves。 〃You are
a far greater musician than you seem to be aware of。 I have not been
taking lessons for some time； but you have aroused all my musical
ambition； and if you will accept me too； as a pupil； I shall deem it a favor。〃
〃I hardly know if I can teach you anything；〃 answered he； while his
eyes dwelt with keen delight on her beautiful form。 〃But in my present
position I can hardly afford to decline so flattering an offer。〃
〃You mean to say that you would decline it if you were in a position to
do so；〃 said she； smiling。
〃No； only that I should question my convenience more closely。〃
〃Ah； never mind。 I take all the responsibility。 I shall cheerfully
consent to being imposed upon by you。〃
Mrs。 Van Kirk in the mean while had been examining the contents of a
fragrant Russia…leather pocket…book； and she now drew out two crisp ten…
dollar notes； and held them out toward him。
〃I prefer to make sure of you by paying you in advance；〃 said she； with
a cheerfully familiar nod； and a critical glance at his attire； the meaning of
which he did not fail to detect。 〃Somebody else might make the same
discovery that we have made to…day； and outbid us。 And we do not want
to be cheated out of our good fortune in having been the first to secure so
valuable a prize。〃
〃You need have no fear on that score； madam；〃 retorted Halfdan； with
a vivid blush； and purposely misinterpreting the polite subterfuge。 〃You
may rely upon my promise。 I shall be here again； as soon as you wish me
to return。〃
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〃Then； if you please； we shall look for you to…morrow morning at ten
o'clock。〃
And Mrs。 Van Kirk hesitatingly folded up her notes and replaced them
in her pocket…book。
To our idealist there was something extremely odious in this sudden
offer of money。 It was the first time any one had offered to pay him； and
it seemed to put him on a level with a common day…laborer。 His first
impulse was to resent it as a gratuitous humiliation； but a glance at Mrs。
Van Kirk's countenance； which was all aglow with officious benevolence；
re…assured him； and his indignation died away。
That same afternoon Olson； having been informed of his friend's good
fortune； volunteered a loan of a hundred dollars； and accompanied him to
a fashionable tailor； where he underwent a pleasing metamorphosis。
V。
In Norway the ladies dress with the innocent purpose of protecting
themselves against the weather； if this purpose is still remotely present in
the toilets of American women of to…day； it is； at all events； sufficiently
disguised to challenge detection； very much like a primitive Sanscrit root
in its French and English derivatives。 This was the reflection which was
uppermost in Halfdan's mind as Edith； ravishing to behold in the airy
grace of her fragrant morning toilet； at the appointed time took her seat at
his side before the piano。 Her presence seemed so intense； so all…
absorbing； that it left no thought for the music。 A woman； with all the
spiritual mysteries which that name implies； had always appeared to him
rather a composite phenomenon； even apart from those varied accessories
of
