tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第9节
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〃Yes； I promise。〃
〃Now； you must not be surprised； but mamma and I have made
arrangements with Mr。 S that you are to appear under his auspices at a
concert which is to be given a week from to…night。 All our friends are
going； and we shall take up all the front seats； and I have already told my
gentlemen friends to scatter through the audience； and if they care
anything for my favor； they will have to applaud vigorously。〃
Halfdan reddened up to his temples； and began to twist his watch…
chain nervously。
〃You must have small confidence in my ability；〃 he murmured； 〃since
you resort to precautions like these。〃
〃But my dear Mr。 Birch；〃 cried Edith； who was quick to discover that
she had made a mistake； 〃it is not kind in you to mistrust me in that way。
If a New York audience were as highly cultivated in music as you are； I
admit that my precautions would be superfluous。 But the papers； you
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know； will take their tone from the audience； and therefore we must make
use of a little innocent artifice to make sure of it。 Everything depends
upon the success of your first public appearance； and if your friends can in
this way help you to establish the reputation which is nothing but your
right； I am sure you ought not to bind their hands by your foolish
sensitiveness。 You don't know the American way of doing things as well
as I do； therefore you must stand by your promise； and leave everything to
me。〃
It was impossible not to believe that anything Edith chose to do was
above reproach。 She looked so bewitching in her excited eagerness for
his welfare that it would have been inhuman to oppose her。 So he
meekly succumbed； and began to discuss with her the programme for the
concert。
During the next week there was hardly a day that he did not read some
startling paragraph in the newspapers about 〃the celebrated Scandinavian
pianist；〃 whose appearance at S Hall was looked forward to as the
principal event of the coming season。 He inwardly rebelled against the
well…meant exaggerations； but as he suspected that it was Edith's influence
which was in this way asserting itself in his behalf； he set his conscience at
rest and remained silent。
The evening of the concert came at last； and； as the papers stated the
next morning； 〃the large hall was crowded to its utmost capacity with a
select and highly appreciative audience。〃 Edith must have played her
part of the performance skillfully； for as he walked out upon the stage； he
was welcomed with an enthusiastic burst of applause； as if he had been a
world… renowned artist。 At Edith's suggestion； her two favorite nocturnes
had been placed first upon the programme； then followed one of those
ballads of Chopin； whose rhythmic din and rush sweep onward；
beleaguering the ear like eager； melodious hosts； charging in thickening
ranks and columns； beating impetuous retreats； and again uniting with one
grand emotion the wide…spreading army of sound for the final victory。
Besides these； there was one of Liszt's 〃Rhapsodies Hongroises；〃 an
impromptu by Schubert； and several orchestral pieces； but the greater part
of the programme was devoted to Chopin； because Halfdan； with his great；
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
hopeless passion laboring in his breast； felt that he could interpret Chopin
better than he could any other composer。 He carried his audience by
storm。 As he retired to the dressing…room； after having finished the last
piece； his friends； among whom Edith and Mrs。 Van Kirk were the most
conspicuous； thronged about him； showering their praises and
congratulations upon him。 They insisted with much friendly urging upon
taking him home in their carriage； Clara kissed him； Mrs。 Van Kirk
introduced him to her lady acquaintances as 〃our friend； Mr。 Birch；〃 and
Edith held his hand so long in hers that he came near losing his presence
of mind and telling her then and there that he loved her。 As his eyes
rested on her； they became suddenly suffused with tears； and a vast
bewildering happiness vibrated through his frame。 At last he tore himself
away and wandered aimlessly through the long； lonely streets。 Why
could he not tell Edith that he loved her？ Was there any disgrace in
loving？ This heavenly passion which so suddenly had transfused his
being； and year by year deadened the substance of his old self； creating in
its stead something new and wild and strange which he never could know；
but still held infinitely dear had it been sent to him merely as a scourge
to test his capacity for suffering？
Once； while he was a child； his mother had told him that somewhere in
this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him； and
for him alone； and when he should see her； he should love her； and his life
should thenceforth be all for her。 It had hardly occurred to him； then； to
question whether she would love him in return； it had appeared so very
natural that she should。 Now he had found this maiden； and she had been
very kind to him； but her kindness had been little better than cruelty；
because he had demanded something more than kindness。 And still he
had never told her of his love。 He must tell her even this very night
while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences
between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness。 He knew
well that by the relentless glare of the daylight his own insignificance
would be cruelly conspicuous in the presence of her splendor； his scruples
would revive； and his courage fade。
The night was clear and still。 A clock struck eleven in some church
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tower near by。 The Van Kirk mansion rose tall and stately in the
moonlight； flinging a dense mass of shadow across the street。 Up in the
third story he saw two windows lighted； the curtains were drawn； but the
blinds were not closed。 All the rest of the house was dark。 He raised
his voice and sang a Swedish serenade which seemed in perfect concord
with his own mood。 His clear tenor rose through the silence of the night；
and a feeble echo flung it back from the mansion opposite：
＇3＇ 〃Star； sweet star； that brightly beamest；
Glittering on the skies nocturnal； Hide thine eye no more
from me； Hide thine eye no more from me！〃
＇3＇ Free translation of a Swedish serenade； the name of whose author
I have forgotten。 H。 H。 B。
The curtain was drawn aside； the window cautiously raised； and the
outline of Edith's beautiful head appeared dark and distinct against the
light within。 She instantly recognized him。
〃You must go away； Mr。 Birch；〃 came her voice in an anxious whisper
out of the shadow。 〃Pray go away。 You will wake up the people。〃
Her words were audible enough； but they failed to convey any
meaning to his excited mind。 Once more his voice floated upward to her
opened window：
〃And I yearn to reach thy dwelling； Yearn to rise from
earth's fierce turmoil； Sweetest star upward to thee；
Yearn to rise； bright star to thee。〃
〃Dear Mr。 Birch；〃 she whispered once more in tones of distress。
〃Pray DO go away。 Or perhaps；〃 she interrupted herself 〃wait one
moment and I will come down。〃
Presently the front door was noiselessly opened； and Edith's tall； lithe
form； dressed in a w
