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！
Emily's look of astonishment answered for her before she could speak。 〃What can I have said or done；〃 she asked； 〃to make you think that？〃
〃Now I breathe again！〃 he cried； with the boyish gayety of manner which was one of the secrets of his popularity among women。 〃I really feared that I had spoken thoughtlessly。 It is a terrible confession for a clergyman to makebut it is not the less true that I am one of the most indiscreet men living。 It is my rock ahead in life that I say the first thing which comes uppermost； without stopping to think。 Being well aware of my own defects； I naturally distrust myself。〃
〃Even in the pulpit？〃 Emily inquired。
He laughed with the readiest appreciation of the satirealthough it was directed against himself。
〃I like that question；〃 he said； 〃it tells me we are as good friends again as ever。 The fact is； the sight of the congregation； when I get into the pulpit； has the same effect upon me that the sight of the footlights has on an actor。 All oratory （though my clerical brethren are shy of confessing it） is actingwithout the scenery and the costumes。 Did you really mean it； last night； when you said you would like to hear me preach？〃
〃Indeed； I did。〃
〃How very kind of you。 I don't think myself the sermon is worth the sacrifice。 （There is another specimen of my indiscreet way of talking！） What I mean is； that you will have to get up early on Sunday morning； and drive twelve miles to the damp and dismal little village； in which I officiate for a man with a rich wife who likes the climate of Italy。 My congregation works in the fields all the week； and naturally enough goes to sleep in church on Sunday。 I have had to counteract that。 Not by preaching！ I wouldn't puzzle the poor people with my eloquence for the world。 No； no： I tell them little stories out of the Biblein a nice easy gossiping way。 A quarter of an hour is my limit of time； and； I am proud to say； some of them （mostly the women） do to a certain extent keep awake。 If you and the other ladies decide to honor me； it is needless to say you shall have one of my grand efforts。 What will be the effect on my unfortunate flock remains to be seen。 I will have the church brushed up； and luncheon of course at the parsonage。 Beans； bacon； and beerI haven't got anything else in the house。 Are you rich？ I hope not！〃
〃I suspect I am quite as poor as you are； Mr。 Mirabel。〃
〃I am delighted to hear it。 （More of my indiscretion！） Our poverty is another bond between us。〃
Before he could enlarge on this text； the breakfast bell rang。
He gave Emily his arm； quite satisfied with the result of the morning's talk。 In speaking seriously to her on the previous night； he had committed the mistake of speaking too soon。 To amend this false step； and to recover his position in Emily's estimation； had been his object in viewand it had been successfully accomplished。 At the breakfast…table that morning； the companionable clergyman was more amusing than ever。
The meal being over； the company dispersed as usualwith the one exception of Mirabel。 Without any apparent reason； he kept his place at the table。 Mr。 Wyvil； the most courteous and considerate of men； felt it an attention due to his guest not to leave the room first。 All that he could venture to do was to give a little hint。 〃Have you any plans for the morning？〃 he asked。
〃I have a plan that depends entirely on yourself；〃 Mirabel answered； 〃and I am afraid of being as indiscreet as usual； if I mention it。 Your charming daughter tells me you play on the violin。〃
Modest Mr。 Wyvil looked confused。 〃I hope you have not been annoyed；〃 he said； 〃I practice in a distant room so that nobody may hear me。〃
〃My dear sir； I am eager to hear you！ Music is my passion； and the violin is my favorite instrument。〃
Mr。 Wyvil led the way to his room； positively blushing with pleasure。 Since the death of his wife he had been sadly in want of a little encouragement。 His daughters and his friends were carefulover…careful； as he thoughtof intruding on him in his hours of practice。 And； sad to say； his daughters and his friends were； from a musical point of view； perfectly right。
Literature has hardly paid sufficient attention to a social phenomenon of a singularly perplexing kind。 We hear enough； and more than enough； of persons who successfully cultivate the Artsof the remarkable manner in which fitness for their vocation shows itself in early life； of the obstacles which family prejudice places in their way； and of the unremitting devotion which has led to the achievement of glorious results。
But how many writers have noticed those other incomprehensible persons； members of families innocent for generations past of practicing Art or caring for Art； who have notwithstanding displayed from their earliest years the irresistible desire to cultivate poetry； painting； or music； who have surmounted obstacles； and endured disappointments； in the single…hearted resolution to devote their lives to an intellectual pursuitbeing absolutely without the capacity which proves the vocation； and justifies the sacrifice。 Here is Nature； 〃unerring Nature；〃 presented in flat contradiction with herself。 Here are men bent on performing feats of running； without having legs； and women； hopelessly barren； living in constant expectation of large families to the end of their days。 The musician is not to be found more completely deprived than Mr。 Wyvil of natural capacity for playing on an instrumentand； for twenty years past； it had been the pride and delight of his heart to let no day of his life go by without practicing on the violin。
〃I am sure I must be tiring you；〃 he said politelyafter having played without mercy for an hour and more。
No： the insatiable amateur had his own purpose to gain； and was not exhausted yet。 Mr。 Wyvil got up to look for some more music。 In that interval desultory conversation naturally took place。 Mirabel contrived to give it the necessary directionthe direction of Emily。
〃The most delightful girl I have met with for many a long year past！〃 Mr。 Wyvil declared warmly。 〃I don't wonder at my daughter being so fond of her。 She leads a solitary life at home； poor thing； and I am honestly glad to see her spirits reviving in my house。〃
〃An only child？〃 Mirabel asked。
In the necessary explanation that followed； Emily's isolated position in the world was revealed in few words。 But one more discoverythe most important of allremained to be made。 Had she used a figure of speech in saying that she was as poor as Mirabel himself？ or had she told him the shocking truth？ He put the question with perfect delicacy…but with unerring directness as well。
Mr。 Wyvil； quoting his daughter's authority； described Emily's income as falling short even of two hundred a year。 Having made that disheartening reply； he opened another music book。 〃You know this sonata； of course？〃 he said。 The next moment； the violin was under his chin and the performance began。
While Mirabel was； to all appearance； listening with the utmost attention； he was actually endeavoring to reconcile himself to a serious sacrifice of his own inclinations。 If he remained much longer in the same house with Emily； the impress