the fortunes of oliver horn-第5章

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Nathan　Gill　and　Max　linger　were　expected；　and　Miss　Lavinia　Clendenning；　completing　with　Richard　a　quartette　for　'cello；　flute；　piano；　and　violin；　for　which　Unger　had　arranged　Beethoven's　Overture　to　〃Fidelio。〃

Nathan；　of　course；　arrived　first。　On　ordinary　occasions　　another　of　those　quaint　ceremonies　for　which　the　house　was　famous　would　always　take　place　when　the　old　flute…player　entered　the　drawing…rooma　ceremony　　which　brought　a　smile　to　the　lips　of　those　who　had　watched　it　for　years；　and　which　to　this　day　brings　one　to　those　who　recall　it。　Nathan；　with　a　look　of　quizzical　anxiety　on　his　pinched　face；　would　tiptoe　cautiously　into　the　room；　peering　about　to　make　sure　of　Richard's　presence；　his　thin；　almost　transparent　fingers　outspread　before　him　to　show　Richard　that　they　were　empty。　Richard　would　step　forward　and；　with　a　tone　of　assumed　solicitude　in　his　voice；　would　say：

〃Don't　tell　me；　Nathan；　that　you　have　forgotten　your　flute？〃　and　Nathan；　pausing　for　a　moment；　would　suddenly　break　into　a　smile；　and　with　a　queer　little　note　of　surprise　in　his　throat；　and　a　twinkle　in　his　eye；　would　make　answer　by　slowly　drawing　from　his　coat…tail　pocket　the　three　unjointed　pieces；　holding　　them　up　with　an　air　of　triumph　and　slowly　putting　them　together。　Then　these　two　old　〃Merry…Andrews〃　　would　lock　arms　and　stroll　into　the　library；　laughing　like　school…boys。

To…night；　however；　as　Nathan　had　been　specially　invited　to　play；　this　little　ceremony　was　omitted。　On　entering　the　hall　the　musician　gave　his　long；　black；　pen…wiper　cloak　and　his　hat　to　Malachi；　and　supporting　　himself　by　his　delicate　fingers　laid　flat　on　the　hall…table；　extended　first　one　thin　leg；　and　then　the　other；　while　that　obsequious　darky　unbuttoned　his　gaiters。　His　feet　free；　he　straightened　himself　up；　pulled　the　precious　flute　from　his　coat…tail　pocket　and　carefully　joined　the　parts。　This　done；　he　gave　a　look　into　the　hall…mirror；　puffed　out　his　scarf；　combed　his　straight　white　hair　forward　over　his　ears　with　his　fingers；　and　at　Malachi's　announcement　glided　through　the　open　doorway　to　Mrs。　Horn's　chair；　the　flute　in　his　hand　held　straight　out　as　an　orator　would　have　held　his　roll。

The　hostess；　who　had　been　sitting　by　the　fire；　her　white　gossamer　shawl　about　her　spare　shoulders；　rose　from　her　high…backed　chair　and；　laying　aside　her　knitting…needles　and　wools；　greeted　the　musician　with　as　much　cordialityand　it　must　be　confessed　with　as　much　ceremonyas　if　she　had　not　seen　him　a　dozen　times　that　week。　One　of　the　charms　of　the　Horn　mansion　lay　in　these　delightful　blendings　of　affection　and　formality。

〃Am　I　a　little　early？〃　he　asked　with　as　much　surprise　as　if　he　were　not　as　certain　to　be　early　when　music　was　concerned　as　he　was　to　be　late　in　everything　else。　〃Yes；　my　dear　madamI　see　that　I　am　early；　unless　Miss　Lavinia　is　late。〃

〃You　never　could　be　too　early；　Nathan。　Lavinia　will　be　here　in　a　moment；〃　she　answered；　with　a　smile；　resuming　her　seat。

〃I'm　glad　that　I'm　ahead　of　her　for　once；〃　he　replied；　laughing。　Then；　turning　to　the　inventor；　who　had　come　forward　from　where　he　had　been　studying　the　new　score；　he　laid　his　hand　affectionately　　on　Richard's　shoulder；　as　a　boy　would　have　done；　and　added：　〃How　do　you　like　Unger's　new　arrangement？I've　been　thinking　of　nothing　else　all　day。〃

〃Capital！　Capital！〃　answered　Richard；　slipping　his　arm　into　Nathan's；　and　drawing　him　closer　to　the　piano。　〃See　how　he　has　treated　this　adagio　phrase；〃　and　he　followed　the　line　with　his　finger；　humming　the　tune　to　Nathan。　〃The　modulation；　you　see；　is　from　E　Major　to　A　Major；　and　the　flute　sustains　the　melody；　the　effect　is　so　peculiarly　soft　and　the　whole　so　bright　with　passages　of　sunshine　all　through　it　oh；　you　will　love　it。〃

While　these　two　white…haired　enthusiasts　with　their　heads　together　were　studying　the　score；　beating　　time　with　their　hands；　after　the　manner　of　experts　　to　whom　all　the　curious　jumble　of　dots　and　lines　that　plague　so　many　of　us　are　as　plain　as　print；　Malachi　was　receiving　Miss　Clendenning　in　the　hall。　Indeed；　he　had　answered　her　knock　as　Nathan　was　passing　into　the　drawing…room。

The　new　arrival　bent　her　neck　until　Malachi　had　relieved　her　of　the　long　hooded　cloak；　gave　a　quick　stamp　with　her　little　feet　as　she　shook　out　her　balloon　　skirts；　and　settled　herself　on　the　hall…settee　while　Malachi　unwound　the　white　worsted　〃nubia〃　from　her　aristocratic　throat。　This　done；　she；　too；　held　a　short　consultation　with　the　hall…mirror；　carefully　　dusting；　with　her　tiny　handkerchief；　the　little　pats　of　powder　still　left　on　her　cheeks；　and　with　her　jewelled　fingers　smoothing　the　soft　hair　parted　over　her　forehead；　and　tightening　meanwhile　the　side…　combs　that　kept　in　place　the　clusters　of　short　curls　which　framed　her　face。　Then；　with　head　erect　and　a　gracious　recognition　of　the　old　servant's　ministrations；　　she　floated　past　Malachi；　bent　double　in　her　honor。

〃Oh；　I　heard　you；　Nathan；〃　she　laughed；　waving　her　fan　toward　him　as　she　entered　the　room。　〃I'm　not　one　minute　late。　Did　you　ever　hear　such　impudence；　　Sallie；　and　all　because　he　reached　your　door　one　minute　before　me；〃　she　added；　stooping　to　kiss　Mrs。　Horn。　Punctuality　was　one　of　the　cardinal　virtues　of　this　most　distinguished；　prim；　precise；　and　most　lovable　of　old　maids。　〃You　are　really　getting　to　be　dreadful；　Mr。　Nathan　Gill；　and　so　puffed　up　isn't　he；　Richard？〃　As　she　spoke　she　turned　abruptly　and　faced　both　gentlemen。　Then；　with　one　of　her　rippling　laughsa　laugh　that　Richard　always　said　reminded　him　of　the　notes　of　a　birdshe　caught　her　skirts　in　her　fingers；　made　the　most　sweeping　of　courtesies　and　held　out　her　hands　to　the　two　gentlemen　　who　were　crossing　the　room　to　meet　her。

Richard；　with　the　bow　of　a　Cavalier；　kissed　the　one　offered　him　as　gallantly　as　if　she　had　been　a　duchess；　telling　her　he　had　the　rarest　treat　in　store　for　her　as　soon　as　Unger　came；　and　Nathan　with　mock　devotion　held　the　other　between　his　two　palms；　and　said　that　to　be　scolded　by　Miss　Clendenning　was　infinitely　better　than　being　praised　by　anybody　else。　These　pleasantries　over；　the　two　old　gallants　returned　to　the　piano　to　wait　for　Max　Unger　and　to　study　again　the　crumpled　pages　of　the　score　which　lay　under　the　soft　light　of　the　candles。

The　room　relapsed　once　more　into　its　wonted　quiet；　broken　only　by　the　whispered　talk　of　well…bred　people　　careful　not　to　disturb　each　other。　Mrs。　Horn　had　begun　to　knit　again。　Miss　Clendenning　stood　facing　the　fire；　one　foot　resting　on　the　fender。

This　wee　foot　of　the　little　lady　was　the　delight　and　admiration　of　all　the　girls　about　Kennedy　Square；　and　of　many　others　across　the　seas；　too　men　and　women　for　that　matter。　To…night　it　was　encased　in　a　black　satin　slipper　and　in　a　white　spider…　web　stocking；　about　which　were　crossed　two　narrow　black　ribbons　tied　in　a　bow　around　the　anklesuch　a　charming　little　slipper　peeping　out　from　petticoats　all　bescalloped　and　belaced！　Everything　in　fact　about　this　dainty　old　maid；　with　her　trim　figure　filling　　out　her　soft　white　fichu；　still　had　that　subtlety　of　charm　which　had　played　havoc　with　more　than　one　heart　in　her　day。　Only　Sallie　Horn；　who　had　all　the　dear　woman's　secrets；　knew　where　those　little　feet　had　stepped　and　what　hopes　they　had　crushed。　Only　Sallie　Horn；　too；　knew　why　the　delicate　finger　was　still　bare　of　a　plain　gold　ring。　The　world　never　thought　it　had　made　any　difference　to　Miss　Lavinia；　but　then　the　world　had　never　peeped　under　the　lower　lid　of　Miss　Clendenning's　heart。

Suddenly　the　hushed　quiet　of　the　room　was　broken　by　a　loud　knock　at　the　front　door；　or　rather　by　a　series　of　knocks；　so　quick　and　sharp　that　Malachi　started　from　his　pantry　on　the　run。

〃That　must　be　Max；〃　said　Richard。　〃Now；　Lavinia；　　we　will　move　the　piano；　so　as　to　give　you　more　room。〃

Mrs。　Horn　pushed　back　her　chair；　rose　to　her　feet；　and　stood　waiting　to　receive　the　noted　'cellist；　without　　whom　not　a　note　could　be　sounded；　and　Miss　Clendenning　took　her　foot　from　the　fender　and　dropped　her　skirts。

But　it　was　not　Max！

Not　wheezy；　perspiring　old　Max　Unger　after　all；　walking　into　the　room　mopping　his　face　with　one　hand　and　with　the　other　lugging　his　big　'cello；　embalmed　　in　a　green　baize　baghe　would　never　let　Malachi　touch　itnot　Max　at　all；　but　a　fr