She had taken for herself the rooms below, formerly occupied by
the Helmers, with the hope of seeing them before long reinstated
in them; and there she had a piano, the best she could afford to
hire: with its aid she hoped to do something toward the breaking
of the invisible bonds that tied the wings of Jasper's genius.
His great fault lay in his time. Dare I suggest that he contented
himself with measuring it to his inner ear, and let his fingers,
like horses which he knew he had safe in hand, play what pranks
they pleased? A reader may, I think, be measuring verse correctly
to himself, and yet make of it nothing but rugged prose to his
hearers. Perhaps this may be how severe masters of quantity in
the abstract are so careless of it in the concrete--in the
audible, namely, where alone it is of value. Shall I analogize
yet a little further, and suggest the many who admire
righteousness and work iniquity; who say, "Lord, Lord," and
seldom or never obey? Anyhow, a man may have a good enough ear,
with which he holds all the time a secret understanding, and from
carelessness offend grievously the ears he ought to please; and
it was thus with Joseph Jasper.
Mary was too wise to hurry anything. One evening when he came as
usual, and she knew he was not at the moment wanted, she asked
him to take a seat while she played something to him. But she was
not a little disappointed in the reception he gave her offering--
a delicate morsel from Beethoven.
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