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！
listeners fly at all its weaknesses； and please themselves with
making light of its often futile ingenuities； when a wiser audience
would gladly accept a hint which perhaps could be developed in some
profitable direction； or so interpret an erratic thought that it
should prove good sense in disguise。 That is the way Number Five was
in the habit of dealing with the explosions of Number Seven。 Do you
think she did not see the ridiculous element in a silly speech； or
the absurdity of an outrageously extravagant assertion？ Then you
never heard her laugh when she could give way to her sense of the
ludicrous without wounding the feelings of any other person。 But her
kind heart never would forget itself； and so Number Seven had a
champion who was always ready to see that his flashes of
intelligence； fitful as they were； and liable to be streaked with
half…crazy fancies； always found one willing recipient of what light
there was in them。
Number Five； I have found； is a true lover of music； and has a right
to claim a real knowledge of its higher and deeper mysteries。 But
she accepted very cordially what our light…headed companion said
about the songs he used to listen to。
〃There is no doubt；〃 she remarked；〃 that the tears which used to be
shed over 'Oft in the sully night；' or 'Auld Robin Gray；' or 'A place
in thy memory； dearest；' were honest tears； coming from the true
sources of emotion。 There was no affectation about them； those songs
came home to the sensibilities of young people；of all who had any
sensibilities to be acted upon。 And on the other hand； there is a
great amount of affectation in the apparent enthusiasm of many
persons in admiring and applauding music of which they have not the
least real appreciation。 They do not know whether it is good or bad；
the work of a first…rate or a fifth…rate composer； whether there are
coherent elements in it； or whether it is nothing more than 'a
concourse of sweet sounds' with no organic connections。 One must be
educated； no doubt； to understand the more complex and difficult
kinds of musical composition。 Go to the great concerts where you
know that the music is good； and that you ought to like it whether
you do or not。 Take a music…bath once or twice a week for a few
seasons； and you will find that it is to the soul what the water…bath
is to the body。 I wouldn't trouble myself about the affectations of
people who go to this or that series of concerts chiefly because it
is fashionable。 Some of these people whom we think so silly and hold
so cheap will perhaps find； sooner or later； that they have a dormant
faculty which is at last waking up；and that they who came because
others came； and began by staring at the audience； are listening with
a newly found delight。 Every one of us has a harp under bodice or
waistcoat； and if it can only once get properly strung and tuned it
will respond to all outside harmonies。〃
The Professor has some ideas about music； which I believe he has
given to the world in one form or another； but the world is growing
old and forgetful； and needs to be reminded now and then of what one
has formerly told it。
〃I have had glimpses；〃 the Professor said； 〃of the conditions into
which music is capable of bringing a sensitive nature。 Glimpses； I
say； because I cannot pretend that I am capable of sounding all the
depths or reaching all the heights to which music may transport our
mortal consciousness。 Let me remind you of a curious fact with
reference to the seat of the musical sense。 Far down below the great
masses of thinking marrow and its secondary agents； just as the brain
is about to merge in the spinal cord； the roots of the nerve of
hearing spread their white filaments out into the sentient matter；
where they report what the external organs of hearing tell them。
This sentient matter is in remote connection only with the mental
organs； far more remote than the centres of the sense of vision and
that of smell。 In a word； the musical faculty might be said to have
a little brain of its own。 It has a special world and a private
language all to itself。 How can one explain its significance to
those whose musical faculties are in a rudimentary state of
development； or who have never had them trained？ Can you describe in
intelligible language the smell of a rose as compared with that of a
violet？ No； music can be translated only by music。 Just so far
as it suggests worded thought； it falls short of its highest office。
Pure emotional movements of the spiritual nature；that is what I ask
of music。 Music will be the universal language；the Volapuk of
spiritual being。〃
〃Angels sit down with their harps and play at each other； I suppose；〃
said Number Seven。 〃Must have an atmosphere up there if they have
harps； or they wouldn't get any music。 Wonder if angels breathe like
mortals？ If they do； they must have lungs and air passages； of
course。 Think of an angel with the influenza； and nothing but a
cloud for a handkerchief！〃
This is a good instance of the way in which Number Seven's
squinting brain works。 You will now and then meet just such brains
in heads you know very well。 Their owners are much given to asking
unanswerable questions。 A physicist may settle it for us whether
there is an atmosphere about a planet or not； but it takes a brain
with an extra fissure in it to ask these unexpected questions；
questions which the natural philosopher cannot answer； and which the
theologian never thinks of asking。
The company at our table do not keep always in the same places。 The
first thing I noticed； the other evening； was that the Tutor was
sitting between the two Annexes； and the Counsellor was next to
Number Five。 Something ought to come of this arrangement。 One of
those two young ladies must certainly captivate and perhaps capture
the Tutor。 They are just the age to be falling in love and to be
fallen in love with。 The Tutor is good looking； intellectual；
suspected of writing poetry； but a little shy； it appears to me。
I am glad to see him between the two girls。 If there were only one；
she might be shy too； and then there would be less chance for a
romance such as I am on the lookout for； but these young persons lend
courage to each other； and between them； if he does not wake up like
Cymon at the sight of Iphigenia； I shall be disappointed。 As for the
Counsellor and Number Five； they will soon find each other out。 Yes；
it is all pretty clear in my mind；except that there is always an x
in a problem where sentiments are involved。 No； not so clear about
the Tutor。 Predestined； I venture my guess； to one or the other； but
to which？ I will suspend my opinion for the present。
I have found out that the Counsellor is a childless widower。 I am
told that the Tutor is unmarried； and so far as known not engaged。
There is no use in denying it；a company without the possibility of
a love…match between two of i