CHAPTER V.

sthatseemtosendanerve-thrillthroughivorykeyandwoodenhammer,andcompelthestringstomakeaquiveringlingeringspeechforhim.Gwendolen,inspiteofherwoundedegoism,hadfullnessofnatureenoughtofeelthepowerofthisplaying,anditgraduallyturnedherinwardsobofmortificationintoanexcitementwhichliftedherforthemomentintoadesperateindifferenceaboutherowndoings,oratleastadeterminationtogetasuperiorityoverthembylaughingatthemasiftheybelongedtosomebodyelse.Hereyeshadbecomebrighter,hercheeksslightlyflushed,andhertonguereadyforanymischievousremarks. “Iwishyouwouldsingtousagain,MissHarleth,”saidyoungClintock,thearchdeacon’sclassicalson,whohadbeensofortunateastotakehertodinner,andcameuptorenewconversationassoonasHerrKlesmer’sperformancewasended,“Thatisthestyleofmusicforme.Inevercanmakeanythingofthistip-topplaying.Itislikeajarofleeches,whereyoucannevertelleitherbeginningsorendings.Icouldlistentoyoursingingallday.” “Yes,weshouldbegladofsomethingpopularnow—anothersongfromyouwouldbearelaxation,”saidMrs.Arrowpoint,whohadalsocomenearwithpoliteintentions. “Thatmustbebecauseyouareinapuerilestateofculture,andhavenobreadthofhorizon.Ihavejustlearnedthat.Ihavebeentaughthowbadmytasteis,andamfeelinggrowingpains.Theyareneverpleasant,”saidGwendolen,nottakinganynoticeofMrs.Arrowpoint,andlookingupwithabrightsmileatyoungClintock. Mrs.Arrowpointwasnotinsensibletothisrudeness,butmerelysaid,“Well,wewillnotpressanythingdisagreeably,”andastherewasaperceptibleoutburstofimprisonedconversationjustthen,andamovementofguestsseekingeachother,sheremainedseatedwhereshewas,andlookedaroundherwiththereliefofahostessatfindingsheisnotneeded. “Iamgladyoulikethisneighborhood,”saidyoungClintock,well-pleasedwithhisstationinfrontofGwendolen. “Exceedingly.Thereseemstobealittleofeverythingandnotmuchofanything.” “Thatisratherequivocalpraise.” “Notwithme.Ilikealittleofeverythingalittleabsurdity,forexample,isveryamusing.Iamthankfulforafewqueerpeoplebutmuchofthemisabore.” (Mrs.Arrowpoint,whowashearingthisdialogue,perceivedquiteanewtoneinGwendolen’sspeech,andfeltarevivalofdoubtastoherinterestinTasso’smadness.) “Ithinkthereshouldbemorecroquet,foronething,”saidyoungClintock“Iamusuallyaway,butifIweremorehereIshouldgoinforacroquetclub.Youareoneofthearchers,Ithink.Butdependuponitcroquetisthegameofthefuture.Itwantswritingup,though.Oneofourbestmenhaswrittenapoemonit,infourcantos—asgoodasPope.Iwanthimtopublishit—Youneverreadanythingbetter.” “Ishallstudycroquetto-morrow.Ishalltaketoitinsteadofsinging.” “No,no,notthatbutdotaketocroquet.IwillsendyouJenning’spoemifyoulike.Ihaveamanuscriptcopy.” “Isheagreatfriendofyours?” “Well,rather.” “Oh,ifheisonlyrather,IthinkIwilldecline.Or,ifyousendittome,willyoupromisenottocatechisemeuponitandaskmewhichpartIlikebest?Becauseitisnotsoeasytoknowapoemwithoutreadingitastoknowasermonwithoutlistening.” “Decidedly,”Mrs.Arrowpointthought,“thisgirlisdoubleandsatirical.Ishallbeonmyguardagainsther.” ButGwendolen,nevertheless,continuedtoreceivepoliteattentionsfromthefamilyatQuetcham,notmerelybecauseinvitationshavelargergroundsthanthoseofpersonalliking,butbecausethetryinglittlesceneatthepianohadawakenedakindlysolicitudetowardherinthegentlemindofMissArrowpoint,whomanagedalltheinvitationsandvisits,hermotherbeingotherwiseoccupied.