stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第2章
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puzzles me beyond all words。 Don't say that you carry a black bag； and
present cards which have to be filled up at the most inconvenient time；
don't〃
He stopped suddenly； for the little girl was convulsed with laughter。
She laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks； and then she dried her
eyes and laughed again。
〃Excuse me；〃 she said； 〃I can't help myself； it's so funny。〃
〃It may be funny to you；〃 he said； laughing in spite of himself； 〃but it
is not funny to me。〃
〃Of course it isn't；〃 she replied； making a desperate effort to be serious。
〃Well； tell me something more about these tuners。〃
〃Not another word；〃 he said； gallantly。 〃I am ashamed of myself as it is。
Come to the end of the garden； and let me show you the view down into
the valley。〃
She had conquered her fit of merriment； but her face wore a settled
look of mischief； and she was evidently the possessor of some secret joke。
She seemed in capital health and spirits； and had so much to say that was
bright and interesting that Oswald Everard found himself becoming
reconciled to the whole race of tuners。 He was amazed to learn that she
had walked all the way from Z； and quite alone； too。
〃Oh； I don't think anything of that；〃 she said； 〃I had a splendid time；
and I caught four rare butterflies。 I would not have missed those for
anything。 As for the going about by myself； that is a second nature。
Besides； I do not belong to any one。 That has its advantages； and I suppose
its disadvantages； but at present I have only discovered the advantages。
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The disadvantages will discover themselves！〃
〃I believe you are what the novels call an advanced young woman；〃 he
said。 〃Perhaps you give lectures on woman's suffrage； or something of that
sort？〃
〃I have very often mounted the platform；〃 she answered。 〃In fact； I am
never so happy as when addressing an immense audience。 A most
unfeminine thing to do； isn't it？ What would the lady yonder in the horse…
cloth dress and billycock hat say？ Don't you think you ought to go and
help her drive away the goat？ She looks so frightened。 She interests me
deeply。 I wonder whether she has written an essay on the feminine in
woman。 I should like to read it； it would do me so much good。〃
〃You are at least a true woman；〃 he said； laughing； 〃for I see you can
be spiteful。 The tuning has not driven that away。〃
〃Ah； I had forgotten about the tuning；〃 she answered； brightly； 〃but
now you remind me； I have been seized with a great idea。〃
〃Won't you tell it to me？〃 he asked。
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃I keep my great ideas for myself； and work them
out in secret。 And this one is particularly amusing。 What fun I shall have！〃
〃But why keep the fun to yourself？〃 he said。 〃We all want to be
amused here； we all want to be stirred up； a little fun would be a charity。〃
〃Very well； since you wish it； you shall be stirred up；〃 she answered；
〃but you must give me time to work out my great idea。 I do not hurry
about things； not even about my professional duties； for I have a strong
feeling that it is vulgar to be always amassing riches！ As I have neither a
husband nor a brother to support； I have chosen less wealth； and more
leisure to enjoy all the loveliness of life！ So you see I take my time about
everything。 And to…morrow I shall catch butterflies at my leisure； and lie
among the dear old pines； and work at my great idea。〃
〃I shall catch butterflies；〃 said her companion； 〃and I too shall lie
among the dear old pines。〃
〃Just as you please；〃 she said； and at that moment the /table d'hote/
bell rang。
The little girl hastened to the bureau； and spoke rapidly in German to
the cashier。
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〃/Ach； Fraulein/！〃 he said。 〃You are not really serious？〃
〃Yes； I am；〃 she said。 〃I don't want them to know my name。 It will
only worry me。 Say I am the young lady who tuned the piano。〃
She had scarcely given these directions and mounted to her room when
Oswald Everard； who was much interested in his mysterious companion；
came to the bureau； and asked for the name of the little lady。
〃/Es ist das Fraulein welches das Piano gestimmt hat/；〃 answered the
man； returning with unusual quickness to his account…book。
No one spoke to the little girl at /table d'hote/； but for all that she
enjoyed her dinner； and gave her serious attention to all the courses。 Being
thus solidly occupied； she had not much leisure to bestow on the
conversation of the other guests。 Nor was it specially original； it treated of
the short…comings of the chef； the tastelessness of the soup； the toughness
of the beef； and all the many failings which go to complete a mountain
hotel dinner。 But suddenly； so it seemed to the little girl； this time…
honoured talk passed into another phase； she heard the word 〃music〃
mentioned； and she became at once interested to learn what these people
had to say on a subject which was dearer to her than any other。
〃For my own part；〃 said a stern…looking old man； 〃I have no words to
describe what a gracious comfort music has been to me all my life。 It is the
noblest language which man may understand and speak。 And I sometimes
think that those who know it； or know something of it； are able at rare
moments to find an answer to life's perplexing problems。〃
The little girl looked up from her plate。 Robert Browning's words rose
to her lips； but she did not give them utterance：
God has a few of us whom He whispers in the ear； The rest may
reason； and welcome； 'tis we musicians know。
〃I have lived through a long life；〃 said another elderly man； 〃and have
therefore had my share of trouble； but the grief of being obliged to give up
music was the grief which held me longest； or which perhaps has never
left me。 I still crave for the gracious pleasure of touching once more the
strings of the violoncello； and hearing the dear； tender voice singing and
throbbing； and answering even to such poor skill as mine。 I still yearn to
take my part in concerted music； and be one of those privileged to play
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Beethoven's string…quartettes。 But that will have to be in another
incarnation； I think。〃
He glanced at his shrunken arm； and then； as though ashamed of this
allusion to his own personal infirmity； he added hastily：
〃But when the first pang of such a pain is over； there remains the
comfort of being a listener。 At first one does not think it is a comfort； but
as time goes on there is no resisting its magic influence。 And Lowell said
rightly that 'one of God's great charities is music。' 〃
〃I did not know you were musical； Mr。 Keith；〃 said an English lady。
〃You have never before spoken of music。〃
〃Perhaps not； madam；〃 he answered。 〃One does not often speak of
what one cares for most of all。 But when I am in London I rarely miss
hearing our best players。〃
At this point others joined in； and the various merits of eminent
pianists were warmly discussed。
〃What a wonderful name that little English lady has made for herself！〃
said the major； who was considered an authority on all subjects。 I would
go anywhere to hear Miss Thyra Flowerdew。 We all ought to be very
proud of her。 She has taken even the German musical world by storm； and
they say her recitals at Paris have been brilliantly successful。 I myself have
heard her at New York； Leipsic； London； Berlin； and even Chicago。〃
The little girl stirred uneasily in her chair。
〃I don't think Miss Flowerdew has ever been to Chicago；〃 she said。
There was a dead silence。 The admirer of Miss Thyra Flowerdew
looked much annoyed； and twiddled his watch…chain。 He had meant to say
〃Philadelphia；〃 but he did not think it necessary to own to his mistake。
〃What impertinence！〃 said one of the ladies to Miss Blake。 〃What can
she know about it？ Is she not the young person who tuned the piano？〃
〃Perhaps she tunes Miss Thyra Flowerdew's piano！〃 suggested Miss
Blake； in a loud whisper。
〃You are right； madam；〃 said the little girl； quietly。 〃I have often tuned
Miss Flowerdew's piano。〃
There was another embarrassing silence； and then a lovely old lady；
whom every one reverenced； came to the rescue。
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〃I think her playing is simply superb；〃 she said。 〃Nothing that I ever
hear satisfies me so entirely。 She has all the tenderness of an angel's
touch。〃
〃Listening to her；〃 said the major； who had now recovered from his
annoyance at being interrupted； 〃one becomes unconscious of her
presence； for she /is the music itself/。 And that is rare。 It is but seldom
nowadays that we are allowed to forget the personality of the player。 And
yet her personality is an unusual one； having once seen her； it would not
be easy to forget her。 I should recognise her anywhere。〃
As he spoke； he glanced at the little tuner； and could not help admiring
her dignified composure under circumstances which might have been
distressing to any one； and when she rose with the others he followed her；
and said stiffly：
〃I regret that I was the indirect cause of putting you in an awkward
position。〃
〃It is really of no consequence；〃 she said； brightly。 〃If you think I was
impertinent； I ask your forgiveness。 I did not mean to be officious。 The
words were spoken before I was aware of
