amc.masterharperofpern-第8节

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only　child。　Now　she　did　not　have　to　worry　about　that。　Her　son　was　not　only　inclined　to　musical　experimentation；　he　also　had　a　good　ear　and；　it　would　seem；　perfect　pitch。
　　　When　Petiron　was　busy　with　students；　Merelan　would　often　whistle　simple　tunes　within　her　son's　hearing。　Petiron　did　not　like　her　whistling　…　possibly　because　he　couldn't；　but　more　likely　because　he　felt　that　girls　shouldn't。　Despite　loving　him　so　much；　she　privately　admitted　that　his　attitudes　made　no　sense　to　her：　like　taking　against　whistling　because　he　couldn't　and　she　was　female。
　　　Robie　picked　up　the　tunes　she　whistled　as　effortlessly　as　he　had　learned　the　scales　on　the　pipe。　When　he　started　doing　variations　on　the　airs；　she　had　to　restrain　herself。　She　wanted　desperately　to　tell　Petiron　that　his　son　was　musical；　but　she　did　not　want　her　three…Turn…old　son　suddenly　rushed　into　training。　It　could　turn　the　boy　off　music　entirely。　Petiron　was　marvellous　with　the　older　lads；　but　far　too　strict　for　the　youngest　apprentices。　She　worried　about　the　zeal　with　which　he　would　train　Robinton。
　　　So　one　afternoon　she　asked　Washell；　the　Master　who　taught　the　youngest；　to　help　her　with　the　dynamics　in　a　quartet　they　were　both　rehearsing　for　TurnOver。　A　jovial；　easy…going　man　in　his　sixth　decade　with　a　rich　deep　bass　voice；　he　arrived　with　some　cakes　just　out　of　the　Hall　ovens　and　a　fresh　pot　of　klah。
　　　〃So　why　is　it　that　you　really　want　to　see　me；　Merelan？〃　he　asked　after　she　had　profusely　thanked　him　for　the　refreshments　and　served　them。　〃The　day　you　can't　carry　your　own　part　in　anything　Petiron　writes；　I'll　resign　my　Mastery。〃
　　　〃Oh；　but　I　do　need　help；　Wash；〃　she　said　airily。　〃Robie；　e　see　what　Master　Washell　has　brought　us！〃　She　hadn't　needed　to　call　him。　The　delectable　aroma　of　warm　pastry　had　wafted　into　the　next　room；　where　he　had　been　flat　on　his　stomach；　making　doodles　in　a　sand…tray　that　had　been　a　recent　gift　from　his　mother　…　a　preparation　to　teaching　him　his　letters　and；　possibly；　the　scales。
　　　〃I　'mell　'em；〃　he　said；　still　not　quite　able　to　pronounce　the　sibilants　with　the　gap　in　his　front　baby　teeth。　〃I　'mell　'era。　T'ank　you；　Master　Wa'ell。〃
　　　〃My　pleasure；　young　'un。〃
　　　Merelan's　stage　setting　was　plete。　〃Here！〃　she　said　briskly。
　　　〃This　measure　where　the　tempo　changes　so　rapidly　…　I'm　not　sure　I've　the　beat　correctly。　Robie；　give　me　an　A；　please。〃
　　　Washell's　grey　brows　went　up　to　his　balding　head　and　his　eyes　glittered　as　Robie　produced　the　tiny　pipe　from　his　trouser　waistband　and　played　the　required　note。
　　　Then　Merelan　sang　the　troublesome　measures；　deliberately　shortening　the　full　quality　of　one　whole　note。　Robie　shook　his　head　and　with　his　fingers　beat　out　the　appropriate　time。
　　　〃If　you've　got　it　right；　m'lad；　you　play　it　the　way　I　should　sing　it；〃　Merelan　said　casually。
　　　Young　Robinton　played　the　entire　measure　and　Washell　…　who　looked　first　at　Merelan　and　then　at　her　son　…　folded　his　hands　across　his　stomach　and　caught　her　eyes；　nodding　with　prehension。
　　　〃Thank　you；　dear。　That　was　well　done；〃　Merelan　said；　and　she　allowed　Robinton　to　have　a　second　cake。　He　stuffed　his　pipe　away　under　his　trouser　waistband　and　sat　on　the　little　stool　to　eat　the　cake。
　　　〃Indeed；　and　I　couldn't　have　done　better　myself；　young　Robinton；〃　Washell　said　solemnly。　〃You　played　that　perfectly；　young　man。　I'm　glad　that　your　mother　has　you　here　to　keep　her　strictly　in　tempo。　Do　you　know　any　other　tunes　on　that　pipe？〃
　　　Robie　glanced　at　his　mother　for　permission。　She　nodded；　and　he　licked　his　lips　free　of　crumbs；　lifted　the　pipe　to　his　mouth　and　began　to　play　one　of　his　own　favourites。　When　he　had　finished；　he　gave　his　mother　a　second　look。
　　　〃Yes；　go　on；〃　she　said　with　a　little　flick　of　her　fingers。
　　　He　looked　for　a　moment　at　Washell；　who　knew　enough　to　keep　his　expression　polite；　and　then　the　boy　closed　his　eyes　and　started　the　round　of　variations　he　liked　to　wind　about　that　tune。
　　　Washell　bent　his　head　down　over　his　heavy　chest　until　he　was　peering　directly　at　Robinton；　who　was　now　oblivious；　wrapped　up　in　his　piping；　fingers　dancing；　stopping；　busy　over　the　little　pipe's　holes。　The　instrument　was　small　and　could　have　produced　an　unpleasantly　shrill　sound；　but　the　way　the　youngster　handled　his　breathing　and　instinctive　dynamics　sweetened　it　to　a　delightful　lilt。
　　　As　one　variation　followed　another；　Washell　cocked　his　head　in　amazement　and　gradually　turned　his　eyes　to　Merelan；　who　was　totally　relaxed　as　if　this　performance　were　a　daily　marvel。
　　　Suddenly　the　muted　sounds　of　the　choristers　ended。　Immediately；　Merelan　leaped　forward　and　tapped　Robinton　out　of　his　concentration。
　　　He　looked　almost　rebellious。
　　　〃That　was　a　very　good　one；〃　his　mother　said；　casually　appreciative。
　　　〃New；　isn't　it？〃
　　　〃I　s'ought　it　up　as　I　was　playing；〃　he　said　and　then　glanced　coyly　up　at　Washell。　〃It　fitted　in。〃
　　　〃Yes；　dear；　it　did；〃　Merelan　replied　agreeably。　〃The　trills　were　very　well　done。〃
　　　〃Nice　to　have　a　pipe　just　the　right　size　for　you；　isn't　it？〃　Washell　began；　extending　his　hand　for　the　instrument。　Robinton；　with　a　touch　of　reluctance；　handed　it　over。　Washell　tried　to　put　his　large　fingers　over　the　stops　and　ran　out　of　pipe；　looking　so　surprised　that　Robinton　giggled；　covering　his　mouth　and　glancing　quickly　at　his　mother　to　be　sure　this　was　acceptable　behaviour。　〃Maybe　you'd　like　to　see　some　of　the　other　instruments　I　have　that　might　also　be　the　right　size　for　a　lad　like　you　to　play　on。　This　one　is　much　too　small　for　me；　isn't　it？〃　And　Washell　handed　it　back　with　a　little　flourish。
　　　Robinton　grinned　up　at　the　big　man　and　tucked　his　pipe　back　under　the　waistband；　out　of　sight　under　his　loose　shirt。
　　　〃I　think　you　could　manage　to　get　the　pitcher　and　the　cake…plate　back　down　to　the　kitchen；　couldn't　you；　Robie　dear？〃　Merelan　asked；　rising　to　open　the　door　as　she　spoke。
　　　〃Can。　Will。　Bye。〃　And　he　walked　quite　sedately　down　the　hallway　with　his　burden　as　Merelan　closed　the　door。
　　　〃Yes；　my　dear　Merelan；　you　do　have　a　problem　growing　up　here。　May　I　extend　you　my　pliments　as　well　as　my　assistance？　If　we　move　patiently；　what　is　an　astonishing　natural　talent　can　be　nurtured。　I　admire　Petiron　in　many　matters；　Singer；　but。。。〃　Washell　sighed　with　a　rueful　smile。　〃He　can　be　single…minded　to　the　point　of　irrationality。　He　will　of　course　be　delighted　to　discover　his　son's　musicality；　but　quite　frankly；　my　dear；　I　would　be　sorry　to　be　that　son　when　he　does。　Which　is　obviously　why　you　have　sent　for　me；　and　I　take　that　as　the　highest　pliment　you　could　pay　me。〃　〃Petiron　will　push　him　too　far　and　too　fast。。。〃
　　　〃Therefore　we　will　lay　the　groundwork　carefully；　so　that　his　father's　tuition　will　not　be　the　sudden　shock　it　could　be。〃
　　　〃I　feel　so。。。　treacherous；　going　behind　Petiron's　back　like　this；〃　Merelan　said；　〃but　I　know　what　he's　like；　and　Robie　loves　to　make　music。　I　don't　want　that　to　be　taken　from　him。〃
　　　Washell　reached　across　and　patted　her　nervously　drumming　fingers。
　　　〃My　dear；　we　can　put　Petirons　single…mindedness　to　our　advantage。　I　gather　he　has　no　idea　that　the　boy　has　learned　to　pipe？〃　Merelan　shook　her　head。
　　　〃Right　now；　of　course；〃　he　went　on；　〃he's　up　to　his　inky　fingers　with　TurnOver　music　to　write　and　the　rehearsals　and　then　the　Spring　Gathers；　and　I　shall　have　a　word　with　Gennell　myself　about　this。　If　you　permit？〃
　　　She　nodded。
　　　〃Why；　I　do　believe　the　entire　Hall　could　be　in　on　the　secret　education　of　our　burgeoning　young　genius。。。〃
　　　〃Genius？〃　Merelan's　hand　went　to　her　throat。
　　　〃Of　course；　Robinton's　a　musical　genius　and；　though　I've　never　encountered　one　before　in　my　decades　here；　I　can　certainly　recognize　one　when　I　get　the　chance。　Petiron's　good；　but　he　is　not　quite　in　the　same　class　as　his　son。〃
　　　〃Oh！〃　The　little　exclamation　she　let　slip　before　she　guarded　her　mouth　with　her　hand　was　far　more　eloquent　than　she　intended。
　　　〃A　child　who　can　tootle　that　ridiculous　little　pipe　into　the　sweetest　tone　and　then　produce　rather　sophisticated　variations　on　a　simple　theme　at　three　Turns　is；　unquestionably；　a　genius。　And　we　must　all　protect　him。〃
　　　〃Oh！　Protect　him？　Petiron's　not　a　monster；　Washell。。。〃　She　shook　her　head　vigorously。
　　　〃No；　of　course　he　isn't；　but　he　does　have　rather　strong　views　about　his　petence　and　achievements。　On　the　other　hand；　what　else　could　he　expect　of　a　child　from　such　a　fine　musical　background；　who　is　being　raised　in　the　Harper　Hall　with　music　all　around　him？〃
　　　〃Not　all　the　Hall　children　are　musical　by　virtue　of　their　environment；〃　Merelan　said　in　a　droll　tone。
　　　〃But　when　one　is；　as　your　Robinton；　there　couldn't　be　a　better　environment；　and　we　shall　see　that　the　matter　is　handled　as　diplomatically　and。。。　kindly　as　possible。　I　give　you　my　hand　on　that；　MasterSinger　Merelan。〃　He　held　it　out　and　she　took　it　gladly；　the　relief　…　and　even　her　guilt　at　the　promised　subterfuge　…　easily　read　by　Master　Washell。　〃We'll　do　no　more　than　what　the　lad　is　able；　and　willing；　to　absorb。　Ease　him　gently〃　…　his　thick　fingers　rippled　descriptively　…　〃into　the　discipline　so　that　when〃　…　and　he　clapped　his　hands　together　…　〃we　suddenly　discover　that　this　fi