按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The old lady's preference was taken up and echoed on every side。
Indeed the majority were ready for any change from Mrs。 Chints's
strident tones。
〃Well； my dear；〃 said the lady； 〃it shall be as you say。〃 Then she
added； 〃sotto voce；〃 with a complacent nod； 〃I suppose the music
we were giving is beyond the masses； but if you could once hear
Madame Skaronni render it in our choir at the Church of the （something
that sounded like 'pica…ninny；' as by Mrs。 Chints pronounced） you
would wish for no other。 Will you play； my dear？〃
〃Ah； yes； please do；〃 exclaimed some of the children who had gathered
around her。
〃In mercy to us poor mortals for whom there is no escape save going
to bed； please comply；〃 whispered the old lady in her ear。
The light in Miss Burton's eyes was mirthful rather than sacred as
she rose and went to the piano； and at once an air of breezy and
interested expectancy took the place of the previous bored expression。
〃Come； Van；〃 said Stanton； throwing away his cigar； 〃we'll need
your tenor voice。 We must stand by that little woman。 The Chints
tribe have incited to profanity long enough； and shall make the
night hideous no more。 If we could only drown them instead of their
voices； what a mercy it would be！〃 and the young men went around
and stood in the open door near the piano。
〃You are to sing；〃 said Miss Burton； with a decided little nod at
them。
〃We intend to；〃 replied Stanton； 〃since you are to accompany us。〃
She started 〃Coronation；〃 that spirited and always inspiriting
battle song of the churchjubilant and militanta melody that is
also admirably adapted for blending rough and inharmonious voices。
For a moment her own voice was like that of a singing lark； mounting
from its daisy covert； or rather； like the flow of a silver rill
whose music was soon lost； however； in the tumultuous rush of other
tributary streams of sound； still； the general effect was good； and
the people enjoyed it。 By the time the second stanza was reached
the majority were singing with hearty good…will； the children
gathering near and joining in with delight。
Other familiar and old…fashioned hymns followed； and then one and
another began to ask for their favorites。 Fortunately Mrs。 Chints's
knowledge of sacred music was limited； and so she retired on the
laurels of having called Miss Burton out； informing half the company
of the fact with an important nod； and in remembrance of this fact
they were inclined to forgive her the anguish she had personally
caused them。
Mrs。 Burleigh； who had stolen into the parlor for a little while
that she might enjoy the singing； remembered that she had a pile
of note…books that had grown dusty on a shelf since the baby had
furnished the music of the household。 These were brought； and
higher and fuller musical themes were attempted； until the singers
dwindled to a quartet composed of a lady who had a fair soprano
voice； Miss Burton； Stanton and Van Berg。 Their selections； however；
continued truly sacred in character； thus differing radically from
the florid style that Mrs。 Chints had introduced。
The sweet and penetrating power of Miss Burton's voice could now
be distinguished。 For some reason it thrilled and touched its
hearers in a way that they could not account for。 The majority
present at once realized that she was not； and never could become；
a great singer。 But within the compass of her voice； she could
pronounce sacred words in a manner that send them home to the hears
of the listeners like rays that could both cheer and melt。
At last she rose from the piano； remarking that there were other
musicians present； and no amount of persuasion could induce her to
remain there any longer。
〃Perhaps you gentlemen play；〃 she said； turning to the young men
who were about to depart。 〃A man's touch and leadership is so much
more decisive and vigorous than a lady's！〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg plays very well indeed； considering his youth and
diffidence！〃 remarked Stanton。
〃And he has been taking advantage of a defenceless woman all this
time！ Mr。 Van Berg； if you do not wish to lose your character
utterly； you must take my place at the piano。〃
〃I admit；〃 he replied； 〃that I have taken more pleasure than you
will believe in your in your contribution to our evening's enjoyment；
but rather than lose your good opinion I will attempt to play or
sing anything you dictate； even though I put every one in the parlor
to flight； with their fingers in their ears。〃
〃And you fear my taste will impose on you some such blood…curdling
combination of sounds？ Thank you。〃
〃Now； Van； you have taught us what unconditional surrender means。
Miss Burton； ask him to play and sing some selections from the
Oratorio of the Messiah。〃
〃Are you familiar with that？〃 she asked； with a sudden lighting up
of her face。
〃Somewhat so； only as an amateur can be； but I see； from your
expression； that you are。〃
〃I've contributed my share this evening；〃 she said； decisively。
〃Please give us some selections from the Oratorio。〃
〃Lay your command； then； on Stanton also。 There's a part that we
have sung together as a duet occasionally； although it is not 'so
nominated in the bond；' or score； rather。〃
〃If Mr。 Stanton does not stand by his friend； then he should be
left to stand by himself。〃
〃In the corner； I suppose you mean。 But do not leave； Miss Burton。
If you do not stand by Mr。 Van Berg and sing with him the duet that
begins with the words
'O death！ where is thy sting？'
you will deprive us all of the chief pleasure of the evening； and
it's not in your nature to do that。〃
〃Please； please do； Miss Burton；〃 cried a score of voices。
〃You know nothing about my nature； sir。 I assure you that I can
be a veritable dragon。 But out of regard for Mr。 Van Berg's 'youth
and diffidence' I will sustain him。〃
Van Berg's voice was not strong； but he sang with taste and good
expression。 It suggested refinement and culture rather than deep；
repressed feeling； as had been the case in Miss Burton's singing。
His style would be admired； and would not give much occasion for
criticism； but； as a general thing； it would not stir and move the
heart。 Still； the audience gave close and pleased attention。
Ida Mayhew； who all this time had been out on the piazza and but
half listening to Mr。 Sibley's compliments in her attention to the
scenes at the piano； now rose and came to one of the open windows；
where； while hidden from the singer； she could hear more distinctly。
Her features did not indicate that she shared in the pleasure
expressed on the other faces within； and her gathering frown was
deepened by the shadow of the window frame。
〃You do not enjoy it！〃 said Mr。 Sibley； complacently。
〃No；〃 she answered； laconically； but for reasons he little understood。
〃Now you show your taste； Miss Mayhew。〃
〃I fear I do。 Hush！〃 But when Van Berg's solo ended； she breathed
a deep sigh。
Then Stanton's rich； but uncultivated bass voice joined in the
melody。 Still the effect was better tahn would have been expected
from amateurs。 After a few moments； Stanton stood back and Miss
Burton and Van Berg sang together； then every one leaned forward
and listened with a breathless hush。 Her voice seemed to pervade
his with sould and feeling that had been lacking hitherto。
As the last rich chords died away； the strongest expression of
pleasure were heard on every side； but Ida Mayhew stepped abruptly
out into the dusk of the piazza with clenched hands and compressed
lips。
〃'Peste！'〃 she exclaimed under her breath。 〃What a contrast between
Sibley and myself last evening and these two people to…night！ What
a worse contrast there might have been if Ik had not interfered in
time！ I have a good voice； but the guests of the house have not
even thought of me in connection with this evening's entertainment。
I am associated only with the Sibley style of amusements。〃
Chapter XVII。 New Forces Developing。
After Mr。 Van Berg and Miss Burton finished the selection from the
Oratorio mentioned in the previous chapter； the old white…haired
gentleman at whose side the latter had been sitting in the earlier
part of the evening rose and said：
〃I want to thank all the singers； and especially the young lady
and gentleman now at the piano； not only for the pleasure they have
given us all； but also for the comforting and sustaining thoughts
that the sacred words have suggested。 My enjoyments in this world
are but few； and are fast diminishing； and I know that they will
not refuse an old man's request that they close this service of song
by each singing along some hymn that will strengthen our faith in
the unseen Friend who watches over us all。〃
Van Berg looked at Miss Burton。
〃We c