the price she paid-第51部分

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！



The　strong　lines；　the　latent　character；　in　Mildred's　face　were　so　strongly　in　evidence　that　looking　at　her　then　no　one　would　have　thought　of　her　beauty　or　even　of　her　sex；　but　only　of　the　force　that　resists　all　and　overcomes　all。　　‘‘Yesthe　voice；''　said　she。　　‘‘The　voice。''

‘‘If　it's　ever　reliable；　come　to　see　me。　　Until　then''　He　put　out　his　hand。　　When　she　gave　him　hers；　he　held　it　in　a　way　that　gave　her　no　impulse　to　draw　back。　‘‘You　know　the　conditions　of　success　now。　　You　must　prepare　to　meet　them。　　If　you　put　yourself　at　the　mercy　of　the　Ransdellsor　any　other　of　the　petty　intriguers　that　beset　every　avenue　of　successyou　must　take　the　consequences；　you　must　conciliate　them　as　best　you　can。　If　you　don't　wish　to　be　at　their　mercy；　you　must　do　your　part。''

She　nodded。　　He　released　her　hand；　opened　the　hall　door。　　He　said：

‘‘Forgive　my　little　lecture。　　But　I　like　you；　and　I　can't　help　having　hope　of　you。''　　He　smiled　charmingly；　his　keen；　inconstant　eyes　dimming。　　‘‘Perhaps　I　hope　because　you're　young　and　extremely　lovely　and　I　am　pitifully　susceptible。　　You　see；　you'd　better　go。　Every　man's　a　Ransdell　at　heart　where　pretty　women　are　concerned。''

She　did　not　leave　the　building。　　She　went　to　the　elevator　and　asked　the　boy　where　she　could　find　Signor　Moldini。　　His　office　was　the　big　room　on　the　third　floor　where　voice　candidates　were　usually　tried　out；　three　days　in　the　week。　　At　the　moment　he　was　engaged。　　Mildred；　seated　in　the　tiny　anteroom；　heard　through　the　glass　door　a　girl　singing；　or　trying　to　sing。　　It　was　a　distressing　performance；　and　Mildred　wondered　that　Moldini　could　be　so　tolerant　as　to　hear　her　through。　　He　came　to　the　door　with　her；　thanked　her　profusely；　told　her　he　would　let　her　know　whenever　there　was　an　opening　‘‘suited　to　your　talents。''　　As　he　observed　Mildred；　he　was　still　sighing　and　shaking　his　head　over　the　departed　candidate。

‘‘Ugly　and　ignorant！''　he　groaned。　　‘‘Poor　creature！　　Poor；　poor　creature。　　She　makes　three　dollars　a　weekin　a　factory　owned　by　a　great　philanthropist。　Three　dollars　a　week。　　And　she　has　no　way　to　make　a　cent　more。　　Miss　Gower；　they　talk　about　the　sad；　naughty　girls　who　sell　themselves　in　the　street　to　piece　out　their　wages。　　But　think；　dear　young　lady；　how　infinitely　better　of　they　are　than　the　ugly　ones　who　can't　piece　out　their　wages。''

There　he　looked　directly　at　her　for　the　first　time。　Before　she　could　grasp　the　tragic　sadness　of　his　idea；　he；　with　the　mobility　of　candid　and　highly　sensitized　natures；　shifted　from　melancholy　to　gay；　for　in　looking　at　her　he　had　caught　only　the　charm　of　dress；　of　face；　of　arrangement　of　hair。　　‘‘What　a　pleasure！''　he　exclaimed；　bursting　into　smiles　and　seizing　and　kissing　her　gloved　hands。　　‘‘Voice　like　a　bird；　face　like　an　angel　only　not　TOO　good；　no；　not　TOO　good。　　But　it　is　so　rareto　look　as　one　sings；　to　sing　as　one　looks。''

For　once；　compliment；　sincere　compliment　from　one　whose　opinion　was　worth　while；　gave　Mildred　pain。　　She　burst　out　with　her　news：　　‘‘Signor　Moldini；　I've　lost　my　place　in　the　company。　　My　voice　has　gone　back　on　me。''

Usually　Moldini　abounded　in　the　consideration　of　fine　natures　that　have　suffered　deeply　from　lack　of　consideration。　But　he　was　so　astounded　that　he　could　only　stare　stupidly　at　her；　smoothing　his　long　greasy　hair　with　his　thin　brown　hand。

‘‘It's　all　my　fault；　I　don't　take　care　of　myself；''　she　went　on。　　‘‘I　don't　take　care　of　my　health。　　At　least；　I　hope　that's　it。''

‘‘Hope！''　he　said；　suddenly　angry。

‘‘Hope　so；　because　if　it　isn't　that；　then　I've　no　chance　for　a　career；''　explained　she。

He　looked　at　her　feet；　pointed　an　uncannily　long　forefinger　at　them。　　‘‘The　crossings　and　sidewalks　are　slushand　you；　a　singer；　without　overshoes！　　Lunacy！　Lunacy！''

‘‘I've　never　worn　overshoes？''　said　Mildred　apologetically。

‘‘Don't　tell　me！　　I　wish　not　to　hear。　　It　makes　me　like　madness　here。''　　He　struck　his　low　sloping　brow　with　his　palm。　　‘‘What　vanity！　　That　the　feet　may　look　well　to　the　passing　stranger；　no　overshoes！　Rheumatism；　sore　throat；　colds；　pneumonia。　　Is　it　not　disgusting。　　If　you　were　a　man　I　should　swear　in　all　the　languages　I　knowwhich　are　five；　including　Hungarian；　and　when　one　swears　in　Hungarian　it　is　‘going　some；'　as　you　say　in　America。　　Yes；　it　is　going　quite　some。''

‘‘I　shall　wear　overshoes；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘And　indigestionyou　have　that？''

‘‘A　little；　I　guess。''

‘‘Muchmuch；　I　tell　you！''　cried　Moldini；　shaking　the　long　finger　at　her。　　‘‘You　Americans！　　You　eat　too　fast　and　you　eat　too　much。　　That　is　why　you　are　always　sick；　and　consulting　the　doctors　who　give　the　medicines　that　make　worse；　not　better。　　Yes；　you　Americans　are　like　children。　　You　know　nothing。　　Sing？　Americans　cannot　sing　until　they　learn　that　a　stomach　isn't　a　waste…basket；　to　toss　everything　into。　　You　have　been　to　that　throat　specialist；　Hicks？''

‘‘Ah；　yes；''　said　Mildred　brightening。　　‘‘He　said　there　was　nothing　organically　wrong。''

‘‘He　is　an　ass；　and　a　criminal。　　He　ruins　throats。　He　likes　to　cut；　and　he　likes　to　spray。　　He　sprays　those　poisons　that　relieve　colds　and　paralyze　the　throat　and　cords。　　Americans　sing？　　It　is　to　laugh！　　They　have　too　many　doctors；　they　take　too　many　pills。　　Do　you　know　what　your　national　emblem　should　be？　　A　dollar…　signyes。　　But　that　for　all　nations。　　No；　a　pilla　pill；　I　tell　you。　　You　take　pills？''

‘‘Now　and　then；''　said　Mildred；　laughing。　　‘‘I　admit　I　have　several　kinds　always　on　hand。''

‘‘You　see！''　cried　he　triumphantly。　　‘‘No；　it　is　not　mere　art　that　America　needs；　but　more　sense　about　eatingand　to　keep　away　from　the　doctors。　　People　full　of　pills；　they　cannot　make　poems　and　pictures；　and　write　operas　and　sing　them。　　Throw　away　those　pills；　dear　young　lady；　I　implore　you。''

‘‘Signor　Moldini；　I've　come　to　ask　you　to　help　me。''

Instantly　the　Italian　cleared　his　face　of　its　half…　humorous；　half…querulous　expression。　　In　its　place　came　a　grave　and　courteous　eagerness　to　serve　her　that　was　a　pleasure；　even　if　it　was　not　altogether　sincere。　　And　Mildred　could　not　believe　it　sincere。　　Why　should　he　care　what　became　of　her；　or　be　willing　to　put　himself　out　for　her？

‘‘You　told　me　one　day　that　you　had　at　one　time　taught　singing；''　continued　she。

‘‘Until　I　was　starved　out？''　replied　he。　　‘‘I　told　people　the　truth。　　If　they　could　not　sing　I　said　so。　　If　they　sang　badly　I　told　them　why；　and　it　was　always　the　upset　stomach；　the　foolish　food；　and　people　will　not　take　care　about　food。　　They　will　eat　what　they　please；　and　they　say　eating　is　good　for　them；　and　that　anyone　who　opposes　them　is　a　crank。　　So　most　of　my　pupils　left；　except　those　I　taught　for　nothingand　they　did　not　heed　me；　and　came　to　nothing。''

‘‘You　showed　me　in　ten　minutes　one　day　how　to　cure　my　worst　fault。　　I've　sung　better；　more　naturally　ever　since。''

‘‘You　could　sing　like　the　birds。　　You　doalmost。　You　could　be　taught　to　sing　as　freely　and　sweetly　and　naturally　as　a　flower　gives　perfume。　　That　is　YOUR　divine　gift；　young　lady　song　as　pure　and　fresh　as　a　bird's　song　raining　down　through　the　leaves　from　the　tree…top。''

‘‘I　have　no　money。　　I've　got　to　get　it；　and　I　shall　get　it；''　continued　Mildred。　　‘‘I　want　you　to　teach　me　at　any　hour　that　you　are　free。　　And　I　want　to　know　how　much　you　will　charge；　so　that　I　shall　know　how　much　to　get。''

‘‘Two　dollars　a　lesson。　　Or；　if　you　take　six　lessons　a　week；　ten　dollars。　　Those　were　my　terms。　　I　could　not　take　less。''

‘‘It　is　too　little；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘The　poorest　kinds　of　teachers　get　five　dollars　an　hourand　teach　nothing。''

‘‘Two　dollars；　ten　dollars　a　week；''　replied　he。　　‘‘It　is　the　most　I　ever　could　get。　　I　will　not　take　more　from　you。''

‘‘It　is　too　little；''　said　she。　　‘‘But　I'll　not　insist　for　obvious　reasons。　　Now；　if　you'll　give　me　your　home　address；　I'll　go。　　When　I　get　the　money；　I'll　write　to　you。''

‘‘But　wait！''　cried　he；　as　she　rose　to　depart。　　‘‘Why　so　hurried？　　Let　us　see。　　Take　of　the　wrap。　　Step　be…　hind　the　screen　and　loosen　your　corset。　　Perhaps　even　you　could　take　it　off？''

‘‘Not　without　undressing；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘But　I　can　do　that　if　it's　necessary。''　　She　laughed　queerly。　‘‘From　this　time　on　I'll　do　ANYTHING　that's　necessary。''

‘‘No；never　mind。　　The　dress　of　womanof　your　kind　of　women。　　It　is　not　serious。''　　He　laughed　grimly。　　‘‘As　for　the　other　kind；　their　dress　is　the　only　serious　thing　about　them。　　It　is　a　mistake　to　think　that　women　who　dress　badly　are　serious。　　My　experience　has　been　that　they　are　the　most　foolish　of　all。　　Fashionable　dressit　is　part　of　a　woman's　tools。　　It　shows　that　she　is　good　at　her　business。　　The　women　who　try　to　dress　like　men；　they　are　good　neither　at　men's　business　nor　at　women's。''

This；　while　Mildred　was　behind　the　screen；　loosening　her　corsetthough；　in　fact；　she　wore　it　so　loose　at　all　times　that　she　inconvenienced　herself　simply　to　show　her　willingness　to　do　as　she　was　told。　　When　she　came　out；　Moldini　put　her　through　a　rigid　physical　examination　made　her　breathe　while　he　held　one　hand　on　her　stomach；　the　other　on　her　back；　listened　at　her　heart；　opened　wide　her　throat　and　peered　down；　thrust　his　long　strong　fingers　deep　into　the　muscles　of　her　arms；　her　throat；　her　chest；　until　she　had　difficulty　in　not　crying　out　with　pain。

‘‘The　foundation　is　there；''　was　his　verdict。　　‘‘You　have　a　good　body；　good　muscles；　but　flabbya　lady's　muscles；　not　an　opera　singer's。　　And　you　are　stiff　not　so　stiff　as　when　you　first　came　here；　but　stiff　for　a　professional。　　Ah；　we　must　go　at　this　scientifically；　thoroughly。''

‘‘You　will　teach　me　to　breatheand　how　to　produce　my　voice　naturally？''

‘‘I　will　teach　you　nothing；''　replied　he。　　‘‘I　will　tell　you　what　to　do；　and　you　will　teach　yourself。　　You　must　get　strongstrong　in　the　supple　wayand　then　you　will　sing　as　God　intended。　　The　way　to　sing；　dear　young　lady；　is　to　sing。　　Not　to　breathe　artificially；　and　make　faces；　and　fuss　with　your　throat；　but　simply　to　drop　your　mouth　and　throat　open　and　let　it　out！''

Mildred　produced　from　her　hand…bag　the　Keith　paper。　　‘‘What　do　YOU　think　of　that？''　she　asked。

Presently　he　looked　up　from　his　reading。　　‘‘This　part　I　have　seen　before；''　said　he。　　‘‘It　is　Lucia　Rivi's。　Her　cousin；　Lotta　Drusini；　showed　it　to　meshe　was　a　great　singer　also。''

‘‘You　approve　of　i