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may rely upon my promise。 I shall be here again； as soon as you wish me
to return。〃
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〃Then； if you please； we shall look for you to…morrow morning at ten
o'clock。〃
And Mrs。 Van Kirk hesitatingly folded up her notes and replaced them
in her pocket…book。
To our idealist there was something extremely odious in this sudden
offer of money。 It was the first time any one had offered to pay him； and
it seemed to put him on a level with a common day…laborer。 His first
impulse was to resent it as a gratuitous humiliation； but a glance at Mrs。
Van Kirk's countenance； which was all aglow with officious benevolence；
re…assured him； and his indignation died away。
That same afternoon Olson； having been informed of his friend's good
fortune； volunteered a loan of a hundred dollars； and accompanied him to
a fashionable tailor； where he underwent a pleasing metamorphosis。
V。
In Norway the ladies dress with the innocent purpose of protecting
themselves against the weather； if this purpose is still remotely present in
the toilets of American women of to…day； it is； at all events； sufficiently
disguised to challenge detection； very much like a primitive Sanscrit root
in its French and English derivatives。 This was the reflection which was
uppermost in Halfdan's mind as Edith； ravishing to behold in the airy
grace of her fragrant morning toilet； at the appointed time took her seat at
his side before the piano。 Her presence seemed so intense； so all…
absorbing； that it left no thought for the music。 A woman； with all the
spiritual mysteries which that name implies； had always appeared to him
rather a composite phenomenon； even apart from those varied accessories
of dress； in which as by an inevitable analogy； she sees fit to express the
inner multiformity of her being。 Nevertheless； this former conception of
his； when compared to that wonderful complexity of ethereal lines； colors；
tints and half… tints which go to make up the modern New York girl；
seemed inexpressibly simple； almost what plain arithmetic must appear to
a man who has mastered calculus。
Edith had opened one of those small red… covered volumes of Chopin
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
where the rich； wondrous melodies lie peacefully folded up like strange
exotic flowers in an herbarium。 She began to play the fantasia impromtu；
which ought to be dashed off at a single 〃heat；〃 whose passionate impulse
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