amc.masterharperofpern-第12部分

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　　　He　had　given　a　stern　lecture　to　the　apprentice　contingent　that　they　were　to　behave　properly　at　all　times　in　her　presence　and　never　refer　to　the　incident　or　they'd　have　worse　of　the　same。
　　　In　fact；　the　affair　had　subtly　improved　the　behaviour　of　even　the　more　inventive　miscreants　among　the　apprentices。　But　that　didn't　keep　many　of　the　principals　from　deeply　regretting　Halanna's　intransigence。　Petiron　did　not　restore　the　more　plex　music　he　had　written　for　contralto　voice；　but　Halanna　did　sing　at　TurnOver。　In　the　duet　with　Merelan；　she　modulated　her　tone　to　match　the　soprano　so　that　it　was　technically　well　sung；　though　the　contralto　part　did　not　match　the　soprano　in　the　joy　which　the　song　had　been　written　to　express。
　　　Petiron　was　profoundly　disappointed　in　her　performance；　having　worked　so　hard　with　her　to　produce　the　dynamics　he　had　'heard'　during　position。
　　　〃Don't　you　dare　chide　her；　Petiron；〃　Merelan　said；　intercepting　him　after　the　performance。　〃She's　done　well；　all　things　considered。　No　one　can　beat　joy　into　music　unless　it　es　from　the　heart。〃
　　　〃But　her　voice。。。〃　Petiron　was　beside　himself　with　dismay。　〃She　could　so　easily　have　risen　to　the　occasion。〃
　　　〃Give　her　time；　love；　give　her　time。　She　may　not　be　as　rebellious　or　arrogant　as　she　was　when　she　first　came　here；　but　give　her　the　chance　to　realize　how　much　she　has　learned　and　how　much　her　voice　has　improved。　If　you　can't　say　anything　plimentary；　say　nothing。〃　She　looked　over　to　where　Halanna　was　being　surrounded　by　Fort　Hold　guests　who　were　plimenting　her　on　her　lovely　voice　and　splendid　performance。　〃She　was　note…perfect；　you　know；　and　her　breath　support　was　excellent。　And　her　presence　couldn't　have　been　improved　on。　Say　that。　She'll　know　where　she　failed。〃
　　　Petiron　opened　his　mouth　and；　while　Merelan　knew　he　wanted　to　plain　that　his　satisfaction　had　been　diminished　by　her　lacklustre　performance；　he　observed　Halanna　accepting　the　pliments　with　a　genuine　modesty。
　　　〃Oh；　well。　You　were　splendid；　Mere。〃
　　　〃I'm　glad　you　think　so；〃　she　said；　and　if　her　tone　was　a　little　dry；　Petiron　missed　it　as　he　was　surrounded　by　those　wishing　to　congratulate　Masterposer　and　MasterSinger。　
Chapter　FOUR
　　　Of　Halanna's　family；　only　the　second　brother；　Landon；　was　able　to　attend　the　TurnOver　performance　since　Halibran　had　unavoidable　hold　obligations。　She　was　glad　enough　to　see　her　brother；　and　he　seemed　more　affectionately　inclined　towards　her。　Patently　impressed　by　her　demeanour　as　well　as　her　singing；　he　remarked　several　times　that　he　didn't　recognize　his　own　sister；　she'd　changed　so　much　for　the　better。
　　　Merelan　took　him　to　one　side　after　his　third　loud　pronouncement。
　　　〃I　wouldn't　make　so　much　of　her　。。。　good　behaviour；　Landon；〃　she　said　kindly。
　　　〃But　she　has　improved；〃　he　protested。
　　　〃Yes；　but　do　you　have　to　rub　it　in？〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes。〃　He　rubbed　his　tanned　chin　and　gave　Merelan　a　charmingly　penitent　smile。　〃I　see　what　you　mean。　But　she's　certainly　turned　inside　out；　and　not　before　time；　if　you　ask　me；　though　you　didn't。　When　she　was　a　toddler；　she　was　such　a　sweet　thing。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　〃Who's　that？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　suspicious　as　he　noticed　a　young　man　in　elegant　TurnOver　finery　leading　his　sister　on　to　the　dance　floor。
　　　Merelan　recognized　one　of　the　younger　Ruathan　nephews；　Donkin；　who　was　currently　fostering　with　Lord　Grogellan。　As　he　had　a　good　strong　tenor　voice；　he　usually　joined　the　Harper　Hall　chorus。　He'd　been　no　more　attentive　to　Halanna　than　half　a　dozen　others　brought　in　for　the　TurnOver　performance。　But；　being　from　Ruathan　Bloodlines；　he'd　be　quite　acceptable　to　the　most　particular　of　fathers　as　a　possible　spouse。
　　　〃Ruathan；　you　say？〃　Landon　echoed；　quite　able　to　recognize　Donkin's　suitability。　〃Is　she　showing　any　preference？〃　〃Not　that　we've　observed。〃　〃Still　keeping　your　eye　on　her？〃
　　　〃No　more　than　we　keep　our　eyes　on　any　of　the　young　women　in　our　care；〃　Merelan　replied　pointedly。
　　　〃She　has　learned　her　lesson；　then？〃
　　　Merelan　thought　his　attitude　was　a　shade　arch；　but　he　was　himself　young　and　had　spoken　to　and　treated　his　sister　kindly　since　his　arrival。　〃She　has　learned　a　good　deal　more　about　the　mechanics　of　both　producing　her　voice　and　music　in　general。　She　has　proved　a　good　student。〃
　　　〃My　father　said　she　may　stay　on；　if　you　think　she　should。〃　Now　he　sounded　less　self…confident；　and　there　was　a　hint　of　a　plea　in　his　tone。
　　　〃She　has　scarcely　begun　to　learn　the　repertoire　suitable　for　her　range；〃　Merelan　told　him　willingly。　〃And　she　has　learned　to　play　flute　and　gitar　well　enough　to　do　ensemble　work。　We　would　certainly　like　to　train　her　as　far　as　she　is　willing　to　go。〃
　　　〃She'll　be　willing；　I　fancy；〃　said　Landon；　his　eyes　watching　Halanna　going　through　the　steps　of　the　dance　with　the　agile　Donkin。　The　two　were　obviously　enjoying　themselves。
　　　Halanna　was　smiling　more　tonight　than　she　had　done　since　her　father's　disciplining。　And　about　time；　too；　Merelan　thought。
　　　〃e；　Landon；　you　can't　spend　all　your　time　as　observer。　I'd　be　happy　to　introduce　you　to　any　number　of　girls　here。〃
　　　〃I'd　like　to　dance　with　you；　if　you'd　permit　it；　MasterSinger。〃　He　managed　not　only　a　charming　smile　but　a　graceful　bow。
　　　Merelan　glanced　about　to　check　on　Robie；　playing　with　some　other　children　his　own　age　at　the　edge　of　the　dance　floor；　and　Petiron；　who　was　explaining　something　…　with　considerable　gesturing　…　to　one　of　the　harpers　home　for　TurnOver。　Eventually　he　would　remember　that　she　loved　to　dance　and　oblige　her；　but　she　was　quite　willing　to　start　with　Landon。　〃I'd　love　to　dance；　Holder　Landon；〃　she　said　and　took　his　offered　hand。
　　　One　of　the　features　of　the　TurnOver　celebrations　was　that　everyone　got　a　chance　to　play　or　sing　…　even　those　as　young　as　Robinton　and　the　other　nursery　children。　They　performed　a　song　on　the　second　day；　each　of　them　using　a　percussion　instrument：　tambourine；　chimes；　triangles；　tom…toms；　cymbals　and　the　hand…bells。　Robie　had　been　chosen　to　beat　the　tempo　on　the　small　drum　with　the　knucklebone；　and　Merelan　glowed　with　pride　at　the　fine　and　plex　rhythm　he　managed。
　　　She　was　disappointed　that　Petiron　was　too　deep　in　discussion　with　Bristol；　the　Telgar　harper；　to　notice　Robinton's　performance。
　　　Bristol；　like　Petiron；　was　a　poser；　though　his　interests　lay　more　in　balladic　works　for　the　guitar　than　in　full　chorus　and　orchestra。　His　work　was　easy　to　remember　and　enjoyable　to　sing　…　though　Merelan　grimaced　even　to　think　so　disloyally。
　　　She　was　rather　surprised；　and　certainly　gratified；　to　see　Bristol　speaking　to　Robie　later　that　afternoon。　Robinton；　his　little　face　serious；　was　explaining　something　to　the　harper；　who　paid　him　the　courtesy　of　attentive　listening。　If　only　Petiron　would　do　the　same。。。
　　　She　reminded　herself　that　this　was　TurnOver　and　the　new　Turn　was　nearly　on　them。　Just　one　more　day　of　freedom　from　the　usual　routine。　She　was　pleased　with　her　hour's　recital　of　the　old　traditional　airs　which　had　been　part　of　these　festivities　since　Fort　Hold　was　founded。　She'd　had　no　trouble　holding　her　audience；　and　the　applause　had　been　generously　prolonged　though　she　had　kept　her　encores　to　three。　As　MasterSinger　she　knew　when　enough　was　enough。　There　were　plenty　of　other　performers　to　take　the　TurnOver　stage。
　　　Halanna　had　given　young　Donkin　quite　a　few　dances　each　evening；　but　she　also　partnered　other　lads；　and　Merelan　was　glad　to　see　the　girl　relaxing　and　enjoying　herself。　Maybe　that　would　restore　the　vibrancy　which　had　initially　characterized　her　rich　voice。
　　　But　Merelan　had　overheard　Halanna　saying　something　to　her　brother　which　puzzled　and　alarmed　her。
　　　〃Petiron's　very　strict　and　makes　you　measure　up　to　his　standard；〃　the　girl　told　Landon　with　a　little　grimace。　Then　she　added　in　an　entirely　different；　almost　spiteful　tone；　〃I　can't　wait　until　he　realizes　that　that　kid　of　his　has　far　more　talent　in　his　little　finger　than　he's　got　in　all　his　fancy　notes　and　difficult　tempo。〃
　　　How　had　Halanna　known　of　Robie's　innate　musicality？　She'd　never　paid　any　attention　to　him：　in　fact；　she　had　steadfastly　ignored　his　existence　when　she　knew　the　child　was　in　the　next　room　during　her　lessons　with　Merelan。　And　what　satisfaction　would　Halanna　take　when　the　father　discovered　his　son's　talent？
　　　That　problem　caused　Merelan　not　a　few　anxious　hours；　though　she　kept　telling　herself　that　surely　Petiron　would　be　delighted　to　realize　his　son　was　musically　inclined。　'Inclined'　was　an　understatement：　Robinton　seemed　to　absorb　music　as　some　children　absorbed　food。　She　was　also　aware　that　the　child　kept　a　cache　of　meticulously　written　tunes　and　airs：　Washell　and　Bosler　had　told　her　so；　saying　that　the　music　was　'delightful'。　Then　there　were　the　glances　they　had　exchanged。　She　had　been　so　pleased　to　hear　their　good　opinion　of　Robie's　progress　that　perhaps　she　had　failed　to　realize　the　significance　of　their　exchange。　That　was　when　she　first　saw　the　drum　he　had　made　and　used　in　the　percussion　orchestra　at　TurnOver。
　　　〃Master　Gorazde　helped；〃　he　had　informed　her　when　he　brought　the　drum　home；　〃but　I　painted。。。〃　He　ran　a　rather　dirty　finger　along　the　blue　and　red　lines　which　not　too　raggedly　decorated　the　rim。
　　　〃An'　I　cutted　the　skin　oh　so　careful。〃　His　eyes　had　rounded　as　he　used　a　pretend　knife　in　his　hand　to　demonstrate　how　hard　it　had　been　to　cut　the　hide。　〃An'　I　nailed　it。〃　His　mother　did　note　that　the　brass　nails　were　well　aligned。　〃Master　Gorazde　had　me　make　dots　where　the　nails　go　so　they'd　look　even。〃　He　ran　a　finger　along　the　shiny　line。　〃Hard　work。〃　And　he　grinned　up　at　her。
　　　〃Lovey；　I　don't　know　when　I've　seen　a　better　one。　I'll　bet　you　could　sell　it　at　the　Harper　Gather　stall！〃
　　　He　clutched　the　drum　to　him；　which　took　some　doing　because　it　overlapped　his　chest。　〃No；　not　this　one；　my　first　'stument；　and　I　gotta　improve　a　lot　before　Master　Gorazde'll　put　a　Harper　stamp　on　it　for　sale。〃
　　　With　a　pang　to　her　heart；　Merelan　said　nothing　as　he　put　it　carefully　on　the　shelf　near　his　father's　worktop。　Maybe　Petiron　would　notice　and　ment　on　it。
　　　Two　days　later　it　was　no　longer　in　view；　and　she　looked　for　the　drum　and　finally　found　it　hidden　in　his　clothes　chest。　He