stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第2节
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〃Whenever I have specially wanted to be quiet；〃 he saidand then he
glanced at her childish little face； and he hesitated。 〃It seems so rude of
me；〃 he added。 He was the soul of courtesy； although he was an amateur
tenor singer。
〃Please tell me；〃 the little girl said； in her winning way。
〃Well；〃 he said； gathering himself together； 〃it is the one subject on
which I can be eloquent。 Ever since I can remember； I have been worried
and tortured by those rascals。 I have tried in every way to escape from
them； but there is no hope for me。 Yes； I believe that all the tuners in the
universe are in league against me； and have marked me out for their
special prey。〃
〃/All the what/？〃 asked the little girl； with a jerk in her voice。
〃All the tuners； of course；〃 he replied； rather snappishly。 〃I know that
we cannot do without them； but good heavens！ they have no tact； no
consideration； no mercy。 Whenever I've wanted to write or read quietly；
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that fatal knock has come at the door； and I've known by instinct that all
chance of peace was over。 Whenever I've been giving a luncheon party； the
tuner has arrived； with his abominable black bag； and his abominable card
which has to be signed at once。 On one occasion I was just proposing to a
girl in her father's library when the tuner struck up in the drawing…room。 I
left off suddenly； and fled from the house。 But there is no escape from
these fiends； I believe they are swarming about in the air like so many
bacteria。 And how； in the name of goodness； you should deliberately
choose to be one of them； and should be so enthusiastic over your work；
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 mus
