amc.masterharperofpern-第7部分

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　　　〃Humph！　He's　a　very　lucky　man　to　have　such　an　understanding　mate；〃　Betrice　said　emphatically；　〃as　well　as　one　who　can　sing　what　he　writes　as　easily　as　she　breathes。〃
　　　〃Ssssh。〃　Merelan　put　a　finger　to　her　lips。　〃Sometimes　I　have　to　work　very　hard　to　keep　up　with　him。〃　〃Never！〃　Betrice　pretended　disbelief；　then　grinned　broadly　at　the　MasterSinger。
　　　〃It's　true；　nevertheless；　but；〃　and　Merelan's　expression　softened　with　pride；　〃it's　wonderful　to　have　such　challenging　music　to　sing。〃
　　　Betrice　pointed　to　Robie；　happily　stickying　up　fingers；　face　and　blanket。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　him？〃
　　　〃Well；　first　off；　I　shall　see　that　Master　Washell　never　has　need　of　Petiron's　studio　again；〃　Merelan　replied；　her　usually　serene　expression　resolute；　〃and　I　shan't　leave　the　pair　of　them　together　unless　I'm　positive　Robie's　fast　asleep。〃
　　　〃That　sort　of　limits　you；　doesn't　it？〃　Betrice　asked　with　a　snort。
　　　Merelan　shrugged。　〃In　a　Turn　or　so；　Robie　will　be　in　with　the　other　Hall　children　during　the　day。　It's　a　small　enough　sacrifice　to　make　for　him。　Isn't　it；　love？〃
　　　〃It's　all　too　true；〃　Betrice　said　with　a　wistful　sigh。　〃They're　young　such　a　short　time　…　even　if　it　feels　like　an　age　while　they're　growing　up　and　away　from　you。〃　She　sighed　again。
　　　Merelan　felt　something　sticky　on　her　arm　and；　looking　down　at　her　son；　saw　that　the　sweet　had　fallen　from　his　hand。
　　　〃Will　you　look　at　this？〃　she　said　softly；　peering　with　a　loving　smile　at　the　thick　lashes　closed　on　his　cheek。
　　　〃Here；　put　him　on　the　day…bed。〃
　　　〃I　don't　mind　holding　him；〃　Merelan　protested。　〃You've　work　to　do。〃
　　　〃Nothing　I　can't　do　while　minding　a　sleeping　child。　Go　on　off　and　do　something　by　yourself　for　a　change。　If　you　aren't　tending　him〃　…　she　pointed　to　Robinton　…　〃you're　minding　him。〃　Her　finger　jerked　in　the　direction　of　Merelan's　quarters。
　　　〃If　you　don't　mind。。。〃
　　　〃Not　at　all。　Unless　you　want　to　help　with　my　mending？〃　Betrice　chuckled　over　the　alacrity　with　which　Merelan　rose。
　　　When　Robie　was　well　into　his　third　Turn；　he　picked　up　a　small　pipe　which　had　been　left　on　the　table。　It　wasn't　his　father's；　because　Robie　knew　his　father　did　not　actually　play　a　pipe　or　a　flute。　And　since　this　wasn't　his　father's　belonging；　he　could　touch　it　…　and　experiment　with　it。　He　blew　in　it；　masking　the　holes　with　his　fingers　as　he　had　seen　others　do。　When　the　tones　that　came　out　were　not　similar　to　the　ones　so　effortlessly　made　by　other　players；　Robie　tried　different　ways　until　he　could　make　the　proper　sounds　as　quietly　as　he　could。
　　　He　did　not　know；　of　course；　that　his　mother's　well…attuned　ear　heard　his　initial　attempts。　Since　they　improved　as　he　continued；　she　was　inordinately　pleased。　Sometimes；　despite　a　strong　musical　tradition　in　a　family；　there　was　one　born　who　was　tone…deaf　or　totally　disinclined　to　do　much　about　an　innate　ability。　She　had　wondered　how　she　would　be　able　to　placate　Petiron　if　his　son　turned　out　to　be　musically　inpetent。　Because　one　way　or　another；　Petiron　would　be　determined　to　impart　suitable　musical　training　to　his　only　child。　Now　she　did　not　have　to　worry　about　that。　Her　son　was　not　only　inclined　to　musical　experimentation；　he　also　had　a　good　ear　and；　it　would　seem；　perfect　pitch。
　　　When　Petiron　was　busy　with　students；　Merelan　would　often　whistle　simple　tunes　within　her　son's　hearing。　Petiron　did　not　like　her　whistling　…　possibly　because　he　couldn't；　but　more　likely　because　he　felt　that　girls　shouldn't。　Despite　loving　him　so　much；　she　privately　admitted　that　his　attitudes　made　no　sense　to　her：　like　taking　against　whistling　because　he　couldn't　and　she　was　female。
　　　Robie　picked　up　the　tunes　she　whistled　as　effortlessly　as　he　had　learned　the　scales　on　the　pipe。　When　he　started　doing　variations　on　the　airs；　she　had　to　restrain　herself。　She　wanted　desperately　to　tell　Petiron　that　his　son　was　musical；　but　she　did　not　want　her　three…Turn…old　son　suddenly　rushed　into　training。　It　could　turn　the　boy　off　music　entirely。　Petiron　was　marvellous　with　the　older　lads；　but　far　too　strict　for　the　youngest　apprentices。　She　worried　about　the　zeal　with　which　he　would　train　Robinton。
　　　So　one　afternoon　she　asked　Washell；　the　Master　who　taught　the　youngest；　to　help　her　with　the　dynamics　in　a　quartet　they　were　both　rehearsing　for　TurnOver。　A　jovial；　easy…going　man　in　his　sixth　decade　with　a　rich　deep　bass　voice；　he　arrived　with　some　cakes　just　out　of　the　Hall　ovens　and　a　fresh　pot　of　klah。
　　　〃So　why　is　it　that　you　really　want　to　see　me；　Merelan？〃　he　asked　after　she　had　profusely　thanked　him　for　the　refreshments　and　served　them。　〃The　day　you　can't　carry　your　own　part　in　anything　Petiron　writes；　I'll　resign　my　Mastery。〃
　　　〃Oh；　but　I　do　need　help；　Wash；〃　she　said　airily。　〃Robie；　e　see　what　Master　Washell　has　brought　us！〃　She　hadn't　needed　to　call　him。　The　delectable　aroma　of　warm　pastry　had　wafted　into　the　next　room；　where　he　had　been　flat　on　his　stomach；　making　doodles　in　a　sand…tray　that　had　been　a　recent　gift　from　his　mother　…　a　preparation　to　teaching　him　his　letters　and；　possibly；　the　scales。
　　　〃I　'mell　'em；〃　he　said；　still　not　quite　able　to　pronounce　the　sibilants　with　the　gap　in　his　front　baby　teeth。　〃I　'mell　'era。　T'ank　you；　Master　Wa'ell。〃
　　　〃My　pleasure；　young　'un。〃
　　　Merelan's　stage　setting　was　plete。　〃Here！〃　she　said　briskly。
　　　〃This　measure　where　the　tempo　changes　so　rapidly　…　I'm　not　sure　I've　the　beat　correctly。　Robie；　give　me　an　A；　please。〃
　　　Washell's　grey　brows　went　up　to　his　balding　head　and　his　eyes　glittered　as　Robie　produced　the　tiny　pipe　from　his　trouser　waistband　and　played　the　required　note。
　　　Then　Merelan　sang　the　troublesome　measures；　deliberately　shortening　the　full　quality　of　one　whole　note。　Robie　shook　his　head　and　with　his　fingers　beat　out　the　appropriate　time。
　　　〃If　you've　got　it　right；　m'lad；　you　play　it　the　way　I　should　sing　it；〃　Merelan　said　casually。
　　　Young　Robinton　played　the　entire　measure　and　Washell　…　who　looked　first　at　Merelan　and　then　at　her　son　…　folded　his　hands　across　his　stomach　and　caught　her　eyes；　nodding　with　prehension。
　　　〃Thank　you；　dear。　That　was　well　done；〃　Merelan　said；　and　she　allowed　Robinton　to　have　a　second　cake。　He　stuffed　his　pipe　away　under　his　trouser　waistband　and　sat　on　the　little　stool　to　eat　the　cake。
　　　〃Indeed；　and　I　couldn't　have　done　better　myself；　young　Robinton；〃　Washell　said　solemnly。　〃You　played　that　perfectly；　young　man。　I'm　glad　that　your　mother　has　you　here　to　keep　her　strictly　in　tempo。　Do　you　know　any　other　tunes　on　that　pipe？〃
　　　Robie　glanced　at　his　mother　for　permission。　She　nodded；　and　he　licked　his　lips　free　of　crumbs；　lifted　the　pipe　to　his　mouth　and　began　to　play　one　of　his　own　favourites。　When　he　had　finished；　he　gave　his　mother　a　second　look。
　　　〃Yes；　go　on；〃　she　said　with　a　little　flick　of　her　fingers。
　　　He　looked　for　a　moment　at　Washell；　who　knew　enough　to　keep　his　expression　polite；　and　then　the　boy　closed　his　eyes　and　started　the　round　of　variations　he　liked　to　wind　about　that　tune。
　　　Washell　bent　his　head　down　over　his　heavy　chest　until　he　was　peering　directly　at　Robinton；　who　was　now　oblivious；　wrapped　up　in　his　piping；　fingers　dancing；　stopping；　busy　over　the　little　pipe's　holes。　The　instrument　was　small　and　could　have　produced　an　unpleasantly　shrill　sound；　but　the　way　the　youngster　handled　his　breathing　and　instinctive　dynamics　sweetened　it　to　a　delightful　lilt。
　　　As　one　variation　followed　another；　Washell　cocked　his　head　in　amazement　and　gradually　turned　his　eyes　to　Merelan；　who　was　totally　relaxed　as　if　this　performance　were　a　daily　marvel。
　　　Suddenly　the　muted　sounds　of　the　choristers　ended。　Immediately；　Merelan　leaped　forward　and　tapped　Robinton　out　of　his　concentration。
　　　He　looked　almost　rebellious。
　　　〃That　was　a　very　good　one；〃　his　mother　said；　casually　appreciative。
　　　〃New；　isn't　it？〃
　　　〃I　s'ought　it　up　as　I　was　playing；〃　he　said　and　then　glanced　coyly　up　at　Washell。　〃It　fitted　in。〃
　　　〃Yes；　dear；　it　did；〃　Merelan　replied　agreeably。　〃The　trills　were　very　well　done。〃
　　　〃Nice　to　have　a　pipe　just　the　right　size　for　you；　isn't　it？〃　Washell　began；　extending　his　hand　for　the　instrument。　Robinton；　with　a　touch　of　reluctance；　handed　it　over。　Washell　tried　to　put　his　large　fingers　over　the　stops　and　ran　out　of　pipe；　looking　so　surprised　that　Robinton　giggled；　covering　his　mouth　and　glancing　quickly　at　his　mother　to　be　sure　this　was　acceptable　behaviour。　〃Maybe　you'd　like　to　see　some　of　the　other　instruments　I　have　that　might　also　be　the　right　size　for　a　lad　like　you　to　play　on。　This　one　is　much　too　small　for　me；　isn't　it？〃　And　Washell　handed　it　back　with　a　little　flourish。
　　　Robinton　grinned　up　at　the　big　man　and　tucked　his　pipe　back　under　the　waistband；　out　of　sight　under　his　loose　shirt。
　　　〃I　think　you　could　manage　to　get　the　pitcher　and　the　cake…plate　back　down　to　the　kitchen；　couldn't　you；　Robie　dear？〃　Merelan　asked；　rising　to　open　the　door　as　she　spoke。
　　　〃Can。　Will。　Bye。〃　And　he　walked　quite　sedately　down　the　hallway　with　his　burden　as　Merelan　closed　the　door。
　　　〃Yes；　my　dear　Merelan；　you　do　have　a　problem　growing　up　here。　May　I　extend　you　my　pliments　as　well　as　my　assistance？　If　we　move　patiently；　what　is　an　astonishing　natural　talent　can　be　nurtured。　I　admire　Petiron　in　many　matters；　Singer；　but。。。〃　Washell　sighed　with　a　rueful　smile。　〃He　can　be　single…minded　to　the　point　of　irrationality。　He　will　of　course　be　delighted　to　discover　his　son's　musicality；　but　quite　frankly；　my　dear；　I　would　be　sorry　to　be　that　son　when　he　does。　Which　is　obviously　why　you　have　sent　for　me；　and　I　take　that　as　the　highest　pliment　you　could　pay　me。〃　〃Petiron　will　push　him　too　far　and　too　fast。。。〃
　　　〃Therefore　we　will　lay　the　groundwork　carefully；　so　that　his　father's　tuition　will　not　be　the　sudden　shock　it　could　be。〃
　　　〃I　feel　so。。。　treacherous；　going　behind　Petiron's　back　like　this；〃　Merelan　said；　〃but　I　know　what　he's　like；　and　Robie　loves　to　make　music。　I　don't　want　that　to　be　taken　from　him。〃
　　　Washell　reached　across　and　patted　her　nervously　drumming　fingers。
　　　〃My　dear；　we　can　put　Petirons　single…mindedness　to　our　advantage。　I　gather　he　has　no　idea　that