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hurries it on breathlessly toward its abrupt finale。 But Edith toiled
considerably with her fingering； and blurred the keen edges of each swift
phrase by her indistinct ar… ticulation。 And still there was a sufficiently
ardent intention in her play to save it from being a failure。 She made a
gesture of disgust when she had finished； shut the book； and let her hands
drop crosswise in her lap。
〃I only wanted to give you a proof of my incapacity；〃 she said； turning
her large luminous gaze upon her instructor； 〃in order to make you duly
appreciate what you have undertaken。 Now； tell me truly and honestly；
are you not discouraged？〃
〃Not by any means；〃 replied he； while the rapture of her presence
rippled through his nerves； 〃you have fire enough in you to make an
admirable musician。 But your fingers； as yet； refuse to carry out your
fine intentions。 They only need discipline。〃
〃And do you suppose you can discipline them？ They are a fearfully
obstinate set； and cause me infinite mortification。〃
〃Would you allow me to look at your hand？〃
She raised her right hand； and with a sort of impulsive heedlessness let
it drop into his。 An exclamation of surprise escaped him。 ‘｛‘｝If you
will pardon me；〃 he said； 〃it is a superb handa hand capable of
performing mira… clesmusical miracles I mean。 Only look here〃 （and
he drew the fore and second fingers apart） 〃so firmly set in the joint and
still so flexible。 I doubt if Liszt himself can boast a finer row of fingers。
Your hands will surely not prevent you from becoming a second Von
Bulow； which to my mind means a good deal more than a second Liszt。〃
〃Thank you； that is quite enough；〃 she exclaimed； with an incredulous
laugh； 〃you have done bravely。 That at all events throws the whole
burden of responsibility upon myself； if I do not become a second
somebody。 I shall be perfectly satisfied； however； if you can only make
me as good a musician as you are yourself； so that I can render a not too
difficult piece without feeling all the while that I am committing sacrilege
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
in mutilating the fine thoughts of some great composer。〃
〃You are too modest； you do not〃
〃No； no； I am not modest；〃 she interrupted him with an impetuosity
which startled him。 〃I beg of you not to persist in paying me
compliments。 I get too much of that cheap article elsewhere。 I hate to
be told that I am better than I know I am。 If you are to do me any good
by your instruction； you must be perfectly sincere toward me； and tell me
plainly of my short…comings。 I promise you beforehand that I shall never
be offended。 There is my hand。 Now； is it a bargain？〃
His fingers closed involuntarily over the soft beautiful hand； and once
more the luxury of her touch sent a thrill of delight through him。
〃I have not been insincere；〃 he murmured； 〃but I shall be on my guard
in future； even against the appearance of insincerity。〃
〃And when I play detestably； you will say so； and not smooth it over
with unmeaning flatteries？〃
〃I will try。〃
〃Very well； then we shall get on well together。 Do not imagine that
this is a mere feminine whim of mine。 I never was more in earnest。
Men； and I believe foreigners； to a greater degree than Americans； have
the idea that women must be treated with gentle forbearance； that their
follies； if they are foolish； must be glossed over with some polite name。
They exert themselves to the utmost to make us mere playthings； and； as
such； contemptible both in our own eyes and in theirs。 No sincere
respect can exist where the truth has to be avoided。 But the majority of
American women are made of too stern a stuff to be dealt with in that way。
They feel the lurking insincerity even where politeness forbids them to
show it； and it makes them disgusted both with themselves； and with the
flatterer。 And now you must pardon me for having spoken so plainly to
you on so short an acquaintance； but you are a foreigner； and it may be an
act of friendship to initiate you as soon as possible into our ways and
customs。〃
He hardly knew what to answer。 Her vehemence was so sudden； and
the sentiments she had uttered so different from those which he had
habitually ascribed to women； that he could only sit and gaze at her in
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
mute astonishment。 He could not but admit that in the main she had
judged him rightly； and that his own attitude and that of other men toward
her sex； were based upon an implied assumption of superiority。
〃I am afraid I have shocked you；〃 she resumed； noticing the startled
expression of his countenance。 〃But really it was quite inevitable； if we
were at all to understand each other。 You will forgive me； won't you？〃
〃Forgive！〃 stammered he； 〃I have nothing to forgive。 It was only
your merciless truth… fulness which startled me。 I rather owe you thanks；
if you will allow me to be grateful to you。 It seems an enviable
privilege。〃
〃Now；〃 interrupted Edith； raising her forefinger in playful threat；
〃remember your promise。〃
The lesson was now continued without further interruption。 When it
was finished； a little girl； with her hair done up in curl…papers； and a very
stiffly starched dress； which stood out on all sides almost horizontally；
entered； accompanied by Mrs。 Van Kirk。 Halfdan immediately
recognized his acquaintance from the park； and it appeared to him a good
omen that this child； whose friendly interest in him had warmed his heart
in a moment when his fortunes seemed so desperate； should continue to be
associated with his life on this new continent。 Clara was evidently
greatly impressed by the change in his appearance； and could with
difficulty be restrained from commenting upon it。
She proved a very apt scholar in music； and enjoyed the lessons the
more for her cordial liking of her teacher。
It will be necessary henceforth to omit the less significant details in the
career of our friend 〃Mr。 Birch。〃 Before a month was past； he had firmly
established himself in the favor of the different members of the Van Kirk
family。 Mrs。 Van Kirk spoke of him to her lady visitors as 〃a perfect
jewel；〃 frequently leaving them in doubt as to whether he was a cook or a
coachman。 Edith apostrophized him to her fashionable friends as 〃a real
genius；〃 leaving a dim impression upon their minds of flowing locks； a
shiny velvet jacket； slouched hat； defiant neck…tie and a general air of
disreputable pretentiousness。 Geniuses of the foreign type were never； in
the estimation of fashionable New York society； what you would call
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃exactly nice；〃 and against prejudices of this order no amount of argument
will ever prevail。 Clara； who had by this time discovered that her teacher
possessed an inexhaustible fund of fairy stories； assured her playmates
across the street that he was 〃just splendid；〃 and frequently invited them
over to listen to his wonderful tales。 Mr。 Van Kirk himself； of course；
was non…committal； but paid the bills unmurmuringly。
Halfdan in the meanwhile was vainly struggling against his growing
passion for Edith； but the more he rebelled the more hopelessly he found
himself entangled in its inextricable net。 The fly； as long as it keeps quiet
in the spider's web； may for a moment forget its situation； but the least
effort to escape is apt to frustrate itself and again reveal the imminent peril。