amc.masterharperofpern-第11部分

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　　　〃The　fault　lies　in　me；〃　Halibran　said　with　a　weary　sigh。　〃Her　mother　died　at　her　birth；　and　with　six　brothers　she　has　been　much　cosseted。〃
　　　The　brother　who　had　spoken　gave　an　almost　imperceptible　shake　of　his　head　and　then　looked　away。　The　other　two　managed　not　to　grin；　but　it　didn't　escape　anyone　that　they　had　probably　tried　to　get　their　father　to　school　his　daughter's　behaviour。
　　　〃What　did　happen　that　made　her　send　such　a　message？〃　Halibran　asked。
　　　Gennell　opened　his　mouth；　but　it　was　Petiron　who　stepped　forward　and　answered。
　　　〃She　is　musically　almost　illiterate；　Holder　Halibran；〃　he　said　in　a　flat　and　firm　voice；　〃although　I　know　Harper　Maxilant　to　be　a　petent　musician。〃
　　　〃Maxilant　did　suggest　that　the　Hall　might　succeed　where　he　was　failing；〃　Halibran　said；　raising　both　gloved　hands　in　helplessness；　his　answer　directed　more　to　Gennell　than　to　Petiron。　〃I　should　not　have　sent　you　our　problem。〃　He　turned　back　to　Petiron。　〃And？〃　〃When　she　repeatedly　refused　to　learn　a　simple　score。。。〃
　　　No　one　of　the　Harper　Hall　group　so　much　as　batted　an　eye　at　Petiron's　remark。
　　　〃。。。　and　started　to　rant　in　an　hysterical　fashion；　I　slapped　her。　Once。〃　And　Petiron　put　up　one　finger　in　emphasis。
　　　Everyone　on　the　steps　nodded。
　　　〃We　all　heard　the　entire　argument；〃　Master　Gennell　said；　pointing　to　the　studio　windows。　〃And　the　single　slap。〃
　　　〃She'd　need　more　than　one；〃　a　brother　said。
　　　〃We　shall　take　her　off　your　hands；〃　her　father　said　in　an　almost　meek　tone；　though　it　was　obvious　that　he　was　probably　not　one　whir　less　proud　than　his　daughter。
　　　〃Nonsense；〃　Master　Gennell　said；　just　as　Petiron　stepped　forward　to　protest。　〃With　your　permission；　we　shall　continue　to　discipline　her　…　firmly　…　until　she　realizes　that　such　behaviour　gets　her　nowhere　in　either　her　relationships　with　others　or　in　learning　the　lessons　you　asked　us　to　teach　her。〃
　　　Halibran　was　astonished；　the　brothers　muttered　among　one　another。
　　　〃That　is　too　fine　a　voice　to　be　misused；〃　Master　Gennell　said；　glancing　up　in　the　direction　of　the　outraged　cries。　Strips　of　clothing　flapped　out　of　the　window　and　drifted　to　the　ground。　〃Or　abused。　We　have　disciplined　recalcitrant　students　before　now。　She　may　be。。。〃　and　Master　Gennell　paused　significantly；　〃unusually　obdurate；　but　give　me　leave　to　doubt　she　is　beyond　redemption。〃
　　　〃I'd　say　she　is；〃　one　brother　murmured；　and　received　a　buffet　on　his　leg　from　his　glaring　father。
　　　〃Give　us　until　the　Spring　Equinox；　Holder　Halibran；　and　you　will　be　pleased　with　the　change。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　propose　to　achieve　that？〃　the　holder　asked；　tucking　his　gloved　thumbs　into　his　thick　riding　belt　and　regarding　not　only　Gennell　but　the　others　on　the　top　step。
　　　〃If　you　would　make　it。。。　exceedingly。。。　plain　to　her；〃　Gennell　said；　〃that　such　antics　cut　no　ice　with　you；　that　you　will　no　longer　condone　her　behaviour　or　rescue　her　from　its　consequences；　she　will　soon　capitulate。〃
　　　Halibran　considered　as　he　removed　his　gloves；　stowed　them　in　the　saddle　bag　and　flexed　his　fingers。　〃If　she　does；　it　will　be　the　first　time　in　her　life；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　had　better　e　now。〃　He　opened　and　closed　his　fists。
　　　The　expression　of　profound　satisfaction　was　mirrored　by　all　three　brothers　and；　indeed；　the　other　six　men　of　the　party。
　　　〃I'll　lead　the　way；〃　Gennell　said　affably　and；　as　Betrice　and　Ginia　fell　into　step　with　Holder　Halibran；　they　disappeared　into　the　Hall。
　　　〃Is　that　the　girl　you　said　had　a　superb　voice；　Petiron？〃　Grogellan　asked；　moving　up　to　the　steps　from　where　he　and　his　men　had　been　a　witness　to　the　interview。
　　　The　oldest　brother；　recognizing　that　this　was　the　Lord　of　Fort　Hold；　respectfully　dismounted　and　gestured　for　the　others　to　do　so；　inclining　his　upper　body　politely　to　one　of　higher　rank。　Just　then　Halanna's　voice　rasped　to　an　even　higher　note；　almost　a　wail；　and　Petiron　winced。
　　　〃If　she　keeps　on　forcing　the　upper　register　like　that；〃　Washell　remarked　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃she　may　end　up　soprano　instead　of　alto。。。　if　she's　any　voice　left　at　all。〃
　　　〃Hmmm；〃　was　Grogellan's　reply；　as　he　turned　his　head　up　to　the　window。　〃She　certainly　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　carry　on　like　that。〃
　　　〃It's　a　speciality　of　hers；〃　the　oldest　brother　remarked。　〃She's　developed　it　into　a　fine　art；　and　none　of　us〃　…　he　included　his　brothers　…　〃could　do　a　thing　about　it。〃
　　　Grogellan　looked　at　him　with　such　a　glare　that　he　grimaced；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　Fort's　Lord　Holder　did　not　approve　of　sons　criticizing　their　fathers；　no　matter　what　the　cause。
　　　〃Any　moment　now；〃　Washell　said；　grinning　in　happy　expectation。
　　　He　was　right。　Halanna's　shriek　broke　off　abruptly。　Then　there　was　a　long　wait　for　those　on　the　ground　before　her　voice　was　heard　again；　and　this　time　her　shout　was　defiance　mixed　with　astonishment。
　　　That　tone　altered　to　outraged　cries；　screams；　and　finally　into　penitent　sobs　which　gradually；　over　the　next　few　minutes；　dwindled　into　silence。　Or　at　least　to　a　level　which　was　not　audible　to　those　below。
　　　To　give　him　credit；　the　oldest　brother　controlled　his　expression　as　he　turned　to　Washell。　〃Our　mounts　need　to　be　refreshed　before　we　start　back　again；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Then　follow　us；〃　said　Grogellan。　〃You　will　guest　at　the　Hold；　for　I　know　the　Harper　Hall　is　presently　filled　to　capacity。〃　He　gestured　for　the　Istans　to　follow　him。
　　　The　oldest　brother；　astonished　and　grateful　for　Grogellan's　hospitality；　looked　from　him　to　the　doorway　of　the　Harper　Hall。　〃I　should　await　my　father。〃　He　turned　back　to　Grogellan。　〃I　am　Brahil；　and　those　two　are　my　brothers；　Landon　and　Brosil；〃　he　said　by　way　of　introduction。　〃And　Gostol；　here；　is　our　good　captain　who　sailed　us　here。〃
　　　Grogellan　nodded　approval　of　Brahil's　manners　and；　leaving　the　young　man　to　wait　for　his　father；　he　swept　the　others　ahead　of　him　towards　the　Hold。　〃How　was　the　sea　on　your　way　here；　Master　Gostol？〃　he　asked；　assuming　the　duties　of　a　genial　host。
　　　The　Istan　holders　stayed　three　more　days；　until　Halanna　finally　capitulated　…　from　sheer　physical　exhaustion。　Ginia　had　naturally　attended　the　girl　after　each　session　with　her　father　and；　although　she　was　discreet；　she　did　imply　that　it　was　no　more　than　the　child　required　to　make　her　mend　her　ways。
　　　〃For　so　many　children；　disapproval　is　sufficient；　or　a　rap　on　the　knuckles；〃　she　said　to　Merelan；　who　was　genuinely　worried　when　Halanna　showed　no　signs　of　repentance　after　the　second　chastisement。
　　　〃Then　there　are　some　who　have　to　have　manners　thumped　into　their　heads。　Oddly　enough；　they　seem　to　recover　more　quickly　than　the　sensitive　child　who　is　only　verbally　rebuked。〃
　　　〃But。。。〃
　　　〃He　uses　only　his　hand；　and　it's　more　her　pride　that's　been　offended　than　her　butt　end；〃　Ginia　said。　〃If　the　issue　is　not　forced　now；　she　will　bee　far　worse　in　later　years　and　end　up　disgracing　her　entire　family　and　hold。　That　can't　be　allowed。〃
　　　〃It's　just　that　we've　never　had　a　child　that　difficult；〃　Merelan　said。
　　　Isla　joined　them；　breathless　from　a　fast　walk　across　the　courtyard。
　　　〃He's　taking　most　of　her　clothing　back　with　him；　and　has　asked　me　to　provide　warmer　garments。　Just　a　few；　and　nothing　fancy；　though　I　did　talk　him　into　permitting　one　nice　outfit　for　Gathers　and　performances。〃　She　looked　almost　regretful；　though　Halanna　had　driven　her　to　despair　with　her　snide　ments　and　spiteful　ways。　〃Only　she's　not　to　pick　it　out。　I'll　let　Neilla　do　so。　She　has　the　best　taste　and　the　most　forgiving　heart。〃
　　　Halanna　was　required　to　apologize　to　the　MasterHarper；　Journeywoman　Healer　Betrice；　and　Master　Petiron　for　her　intransigence。
　　　Gennell　had　wanted　to　include　Merelan；　but　the　singer　put　her　foot　down。　She　would　have　the　instructing　of　the　humbled　girl；　and　that　was　going　to　be　hard　enough　to　handle　without　the　child　experiencing　further　abasement。
　　　〃She　brought　it　on　herself；〃　Halibran　said　sternly。
　　　〃That　does　not　require　me　to　pound　it；〃　Merelan　said；　lifting　her　chin　to　match　his　attitude。
　　　〃You　are　a　gracious　lady；〃　he　said；　relenting　and　bowing　to　her。
　　　Halanna　was　granted　a　room　to　herself；　the　attic　one；　which　had　sufficient　space　for　her　much　reduced　wardrobe。　If　she　did　not　apply　herself　to　her　lessons；　her　father　had　left　instructions　with　the　MasterHealer　Ginia　to　take　what　disciplinary　steps　would　be　required　to　see　that　she　did。
　　　〃And；　if　you　should　decide　this　regimen　doesn't　suit　you；〃　her　father　said　in　so　cold　a　voice　that　Merelan　shivered；　〃and　attempt　to　run　away　from　the　Harper　Hall；　I　will　have　the　drums　repudiate　you　across　all　Pern。　Do　you　understand？　You　wanted　to　sing；　you　wanted　to　e　here　to　the　Harper　Hall　so　that　you　could　improve　your　voice。　Now　you　will　do　just　that；　and　nothing　but　that！　Do　you　understand；　Halanna？〃
　　　Head　hanging　after　the　ordeal　of　apology；　she　murmured　something。
　　　〃I　didn't　hear　that。　Speak　up。〃
　　　A　flash　of　her　old　spirit　flared　in　her　eyes；　but　vanished　when　her　father　lifted　his　hand。　〃Yes；　father。　I　understand。〃　She　stood；　head　up；　lips　and　chin　trembling　slightly。　Satisfied　with　her　demeanour；　he　strode　out　of　the　MasterHarper's　office。
　　　〃MasterSinger　Merelan　will　be　your　primary　instructor；　Halanna；〃　Master　Gennell　said。　〃You　will　review　your　foundation　lessons　with　the　first…year　apprentices〃　…　he　was　almost　glad　to　see　the　flare　of　dismay　in　her　eyes；　her　punishment　had　not　broken　her　spirit；　even　if　it　had　quelled　her　arrogance　…　〃until　you　have　learned　enough　to　graduate　to　the　more　advanced　classes。　Although　classes　have　begun　for　the　day；　Master　Washell　has　given　permission　for　you　to　arrive　late　this　morning。　Now　go　on　to　room　26。　And　you'll　need　this　slate　and　chalk。〃
　　　He　handed　her　the　items　she　had　refused　to　carry　or　use　in　her　first　days　at　the　Harper　Hall。　As　she　went　out　of　the　door；　he　noticed　she　pulled　her　shoulders　back；　steeling　herself　to　go　in　among　the　lowest　of　apprentices　and　face　whatever　their　reaction　to　her　presence　might　be。　The　girl　had　courage。　However；　Gennell　had　made　very　sure　that　she　would　not　be　the　butt　of　any　youthful　mischief。
　　　He　had　given　a　stern　lecture　to　the　apprentice　contingent　that　they　were　to　be