Chapter XXIV
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n,”hesaid,“andIdon’tmindconfessingthatInevercanunderstandthestuffBerthaplays.”
“Oh,Mr.Craddock,notevenWagner?”saidMissHancock,whohadbeenasboredasEdward,butwouldnotforworldshaveconfesseditholdingthecontrarymodestopinion,thattheonlyreallyadmirablethingsarethoseyoucan’tunderstand.
Berthalookedathim,rememberingherdreamthattheyshouldsitatthepianotogetherintheeveningandplayforhourafterhour:asamatteroffact,hehadalwaysrefusedtobudgefromhischairandhadgonetosleepregularly.
“MyideaofmusicislikeDr.Johnson’s,”saidEdward,lookingroundforapproval.
“IsSaulalsoamongtheprophets?”murmuredBertha.
“WhenIhearadifficultpieceIwishitwasimpossible.”
“Youforget,dear,”saidBertha,smilingsweetly,“thatDr.Johnsonwasaveryill-manneredoldmanwhomdearFannywouldnothaveallowedinherdrawing-roomforoneminute.”
“Yousingnow,Edward,”saidMissGlover“we’venotheardyouforeversolong.”
“Oh,blessyou,”heretorted,“mysinging’stoooldfashioned.Mysongshaveallgotatuneinthemandsomefeeling—they’reonlyfitforthekitchen.”
“Oh,pleasegiveusBenBolt,”saidMissHancock,“we’reallsofondofit.”
Edward’srepertorywaslimited,andeveryoneknewhissongsbyheart.
“Anythingtooblige,”hesaid.
Hewas,asamatteroffact,fondofsinging,andapplausewasalwaysgratefultohisears.
“ShallIaccompanyyou,dear?”saidBertha.
“Oh!don’tyouremembersweetAlice,BenBolt,
SweetAlicewithhai-airsobrow-own
Sheweptwithdelightwhenyougaveherasmile,
Andtrembledwithfe-aratyourfrown.
OnceuponatimeBerthahadfoundasubtlecharminthesepleasingsentimentsandinthehonestmelodywhichadornedthembutitwasnottobewonderedifconstantrepetitionhadleftheralittlecallous.Edwardsangthedittywithasimple,homelystyle—whichisthesameassaying,withnostyleatall—andheemployedthereinmuchpathos.ButBertha’sspiritwasnotforgiving,sheowedhimsomereturnforthegratuitousattackonherplayingandtheideacametohertoimproveupontheaccompanimentwithlittletrillsandflourisheswhichamusedherimmensely,butquitedisconcertedherhusband.Finally,justwhenhisvoicewasgrowingflatwithemotionoverthegray-hairedschoolmasterwhohaddied,shewoveinthestrainsoftheBlueBellsofScotlandandGodSavetheQueen,sothatEdwardbrokedown.Foroncehiseventemperwasdisturbed.
“Isay,Ican’tsingifyougoplayingthefool.Youspoilthewholething.”
“I’mverysorry,”laughedBertha.“IforgotwhatIwasdoing.Let’sbeginalloveragain.”
“No,I’mnotgoingtosinganymore.Youspoilthewholething.”
“Mrs.Cr
