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〃Then you may be sure you don't know it。 But you must certainly
have tried your hand at something。 Is there nothing you can think of
which might help you to get a living？〃
〃I can play the pianoandand the violin。〃
〃Very well； then。 You may come this afternoon to my house。 Mr。
Olson will tell you the address。 I will give you a note to Mrs。 Van Kirk。
Perhaps she will engage you as a music teacher for the children。 Good
morning。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
IV。
At half…past four o'clock in the afternoon； Halfdan found himself
standing in a large； dimly lighted drawing…room； whose brilliant
upholstery； luxurious carpets； and fantastically twisted furniture dazzled
and bewildered his senses。 All was so strange； so strange； nowhere a
familiar object to give rest to the wearied eye。 Wherever he looked he
saw his shabbily attired figure repeated in the long crystal mirrors； and he
became uncomfortably conscious of his threadbare coat； his uncouth boots；
and the general incongruity of his appearance。 With every moment his
uneasiness grew； and he was vaguely considering the propriety of a
precipitate flight； when the rustle of a dress at the farther end of the room
startled him； and a small； plump lady； of a daintily exquisite form； swept
up toward him； gave a slight inclination of her head； and sank down into
an easy…chair：
〃You are Mr。 ； the Norwegian； who wishes to give music lessons？〃
she said； holding a pair of gold…framed eyeglasses up to her eyes； and
running over the note which she held in her hand。 It read as follows：
DEAR MARTHA；The bearer of this note is a young Norwegian； I
forgot to ascertain his name； a friend of Olson's。 He wishes to teach
music。 If you can help the poor devil and give him something to do； you
will oblige； Yours； H。 V。 K。
Mrs。 Van Kirk was evidently； by at least twelve years； her husband's
junior； and apparently not very far advanced in the forties。 Her blonde
hair； which was freshly crimped； fell lightly over her smooth； narrow
forehead； her nose； mouth and chin had a neat distinctness of outline； her
complexion was either naturally or artificially perfect； and her eyes； which
were of the purest blue； had； owing to their near…sightedness； a certain
pinched and scrutinizing look。 This look； which was without the
slightest touch of severity； indicating merely a lively degree of interest；
was further emphasized by three small perpendicular wrinkles； which
deepened and again relaxed according to the varying intensity of
observation she bestowed upon the object which for the time engaged her
attention。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃Your name； if you please？〃 said Mrs。 Van Kirk； having for awhile
measured her visitor with a glance of mild scrutiny。
〃Halfdan Bjerk。〃
〃Half…dan B； how do you spell that？〃
〃B…j…e…r…k。〃
〃B…jerk。 Well； but I mean； what is your name in English？〃
Halfdan looked blank； and blushed to his ears。
〃I wish to know；〃 continued the lady energetically； evidently anxious
to help him out； 〃what your name would mean in plain English。 Bjerk； it
certainly must mean something。〃
〃Bjerk is a treea birch…tree。〃
〃Very well； Birch；that is a very respectable name。 And your first
name？ What did you say that was？
〃H…a…l…f…d…a…n。〃
〃Half Dan。 Why not a whole Dan and be done with it？ Dan Birch；
or rather Daniel Birch。 Indeed； that sounds quite Christian。〃
〃As you please； madam；〃 faltered the victim；； looking very unhappy。
〃You will pardon my straightforwardness； won't you？ B…jerk。 I
could never pronounce that； you know。〃
〃Whatever may be agreeable to you； madam； will be sure to please
me。〃
〃That is very well said。 And you will find that it always pays to try to
please me。 And you wish to teach music？ If you have no objection I
will call my oldest daughter。 She is an excellent judge of music； and if
your playing meets with her approval； I will engage you； as my husband
suggests； not to teach Edith； you understand； but my youngest child；
Clara。〃
Halfdan bowed assent； and Mrs。 Van Kirk rustled out into the hall
where she rang a bell； and re…entered。 A servant in dress…coat appeared；
and again vanished as noiselessly as he had come。 To our Norseman
there was some thing weird and uncanny about these silent entrances and
exits； he could hardly suppress a shudder。 He had been accustomed to
hear the clatter of people's heels upon the bare floors； as they approached；
and the audible crescendo of their footsteps gave one warning； and
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
prevented one from being taken by surprise。 While absorbed in these
reflections； his senses must have been dormant； for just then Miss Edith
Van Kirk entered； unheralded by anything but a hovering perfume； the
effect of which was to lull him still deeper into his wondering abstraction。
〃Mr。 Birch；〃 said Mrs。 Van Kirk； 〃this is my daughter Miss Edith；〃 and
as Halfdan sprang to his feet and bowed with visible embarrassment； she
continued：
〃Edith； this is Mr。 Daniel Birch； whom your father has sent here to
know if he would be serviceable as a music teacher for Clara。 And now；
dear； you will have to decide about the merits of Mr。 Birch。 I don't know
enough about music to be anything of a judge。〃
〃If Mr。 Birch will be kind enough to play；〃 said Miss Edith with a
languidly musical intonation；〃 I shall be happy to listen to him。〃
Halfdan silently signified his willingness and followed the ladies to a
smaller apartment which was separated from the drawing…room by fold