THE MASTER'S VIOLIN
BY MYRTLE REED
Author of
"Lavender and Old Lace" "Old Rose and Silver" "A Spinner in the Sun" "Flower of the Dusk" Etc.
New York _GROSSET & DUNLAP_ Publishers
COPYRIGHT, 1904 BY MYRTLE REED
BY MYRTLE REED:
A Weaver of Dreams Old Rose and Silver Lavender and Old Lace The Master's Violin Love Letters of a Musician The Spinster Book The Shadow of Victory Sonnets to a Lover Master of the Vineyard Flower of the Dusk At the Sign of the Jack-o'-Lantern A Spinner in the Sun Later Love Letters of a Musician Love Affairs of Literary Men Myrtle Reed Year Book
This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK AND LONDON
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I--THE MASTER PLAYS 1 II--"MINE CREMONA" 20 III--THE GIFT OF PEACE 33 IV--SOCIAL POSITION 50 V--THE LIGHT OF DREAMS 65 VI--A LETTER 81 VII--FRIENDS 91 VIII--A BIT OF HUMAN DRIFTWOOD 105 IX--ROSEMARY AND MIGNONETTE 120 X--IN THE GARDEN 127 XI--"SUNSET AND EVENING STAR" 144 XII--THE FALSE LINE 159 XIII--TO IRIS 177 XIV--HER NAME-FLOWER 182 XV--LITTLE LADY 199 XVI--AFRAID OF LIFE 215 XVII--"HE LOVES HER STILL" 233 XVIII--LYNN COMES INTO HIS OWN 247 XIX--THE SECRET CHAMBER 265 XX--"MINE BRUDDER'S FRIEND" 280 XXI--THE CREMONA SPEAKS 298
I
The Master Plays
The fire blazed newly from its embers and set strange shadows to dancing upon the polished floor. Now and then, there was a gleam from some dark mahogany surface and an answering flash from a bit of old silver in the cabinet. April, warm with May's promise, came in through the open window, laden with the wholesome fragrance of growing things, and yet, because an old lady loved it, there was a fire upon the hearth and no other light in the room.
She sat in her easy chair, sheltered from possible draughts, and watched it, seemingly unmindful of her three companions. Tints of amethyst and sapphire appeared in the haze from the backlog and were lost a moment later in the dominant flame. In that last hour of glorious life, the tree was giving back its memories--blue skies, grey days just tinged with gold, lost rainbows, and flashes of sun.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Master's Violin by Myrtle Reed
- 2: Have you forgotten that we have company
- 3: Iris sang an old fashioned song
- 4: Iris had a question upon her lips
- 5: Lynn broke rudely into her thoughts
- 6: Receiving no encouragement from East Lancaster
- 7: II Mine Cremona Lynn went up the hill with a long
- 8: Lynn easily recognised the house
- 9: Fraeulein Kaufmann moved toward the door
- 10: That I am not to study with Herr Kaufmann
- 11: Irving felt a throb of sympathy
- 12: Coffin after coffin had gone out of the wide door
- 13: And Lynn straightened himself to look at her
- 14: Iris got the womanly idea which was beneath it all
- 15: But some of the work still fell to Iris
- 16: Then to Lynn and his children after him
- 17: She receives Doctor Brinkerhoff because she is sorry for him
- 18: Lynn fairly choked with laughter
- 19: And it takes time for the readjustment
- 20: Still working at that petticoat
- 21: It takes a woman of brains to play chess
- 22: I was merely giving pleasure to the Fraeulein
- 23: Fredrika likes the gay colours
- 24: Thus Lynn made his peace with Fraeulein Fredrika
- 25: Iris came back and Fraeulein Fredrika followed her
- 26: Lynn and Iris looked forward to the future
- 27: Lynn saw chiefly the technique
- 28: The sunshade waved back and forth coquettishly
- 29: Then Iris stopped suddenly in the path
- 30: The hours went by and still Iris was awake
- 31: East Lancaster affected refined astonishment at first
- 32: Unless it might be the Herr Doctor
- 33: Lynn had no errand save that of pure friendliness
- 34: The Doctor said the expected thing
- 35: This village is full of fossils
- 36: I I was with Doctor Brinkerhoff
- 37: Doctor Brinkerhoff was here night and day
- 38: Iris will be my best bequest to you
- 39: If Aunt Peace should die and if Lynn should marry
- 40: It cannot be that you are displeased
- 41: Then she gathered another sprig of mignonette
- 42: Iris put the rosemary and mignonette
- 43: Iris sat down on the bench beside him
- 44: Iris studied herself in her small mirror
- 45: There are few visitors in East Lancaster
- 46: Lynn looked across the garden to the rose bush
- 47: Iris feared they heard the loud beating of her heart
- 48: And Doctor Brinkerhoff said good night
- 49: Until you acquire the concertina
- 50: And Doctor Brinkerhoff looks very grave
- 51: Doctor Brinkerhoff had lost his youth he was an old man
- 52: I cannot bear to have Aunt Peace die
- 53: Doctor Brinkerhoff came back at twilight
- 54: And Doctor Brinkerhoff surely we are something
- 55: Doctor Brinkerhoff looked after him
- 56: But Lynn was unconscious and perfectly sincere
- 57: That adagio is one of the most beautiful things ever written
- 58: Iris kept her long vigil by Aunt Peace
- 59: Doctor Brinkerhoff listened intently
- 60: XIIITo Iris Daughter of the Marshes
- 61: Replied Lynn is the pitch of the orchestra
- 62: Doctor Brinkerhoff understood at once
- 63: ' Iris broke down and left the room
- 64: It was her heart's desire that Lynn should be an artist
- 65: Lynn was very careful and considerate
- 66: Iris felt the stiff corner of the letter hidden in her gown
- 67: And now she knew that it was only Lynn Lynn
- 68: Lynn coloured and said nothing more
- 69: And Herr Kaufmann put down the violin he was working upon
- 70: Iris knit her brows thoughtfully
- 71: Fredrika could sleep in mine room
- 72: Iris I love you with all my heart
- 73: But it was Herr Kaufmann who answered his ring
- 74: Lynn turned away to hide the working of his face
- 75: And yet you must have the technique
- 76: And I see that it is one Cremona
- 77: Because I had known suffering mineself
- 78: Keen feelings give you the great hurt
- 79: Fraeulein Fredrika does not say 'auf wiedersehen
- 80: Unable to bear the talk of Iris
- 81: These tiny treasure houses of Memory
- 82: And almost immediately Lynn came in from the library
- 83: Lynn felt the lack of sympathy
- 84: Margaret gave the letter to Lynn
- 85: He kept away from Doctor Brinkerhoff
- 86: And once put the question to Herr Kaufmann
- 87: Fraeulein Fredrika answered his ring
- 88: Lynn had felt himself absolutely alone
- 89: For Doctor Brinkerhoff had been positive
- 90: Would she wish Doctor Brinkerhoff to be there
- 91: After an hour in the secret chamber
- 92: Through Lynn full payment had been made
- 93: The remorseless balance against Lynn
- 94: And a belated bird called to its mate
- 95: I thought thou hadst forgotten
- 96: Thou dost not know it is turned
- 97: It was mine Cremona that made the parting
- 98: Doctor Brinkerhoff turned away
- 99: Where Fraeulein Fredrika was waiting anxiously
- 100: Then the heavens opened for Fraeulein Fredrika
- 101: Doctor Brinkerhoff and the Master had been kind
- 102: So it was that Iris hungered for East Lancaster
- 103: Doctor Brinkerhoff and the Master
- 104: She could see Lynn come downhill of course
- 105: Lynn placed the instrument in position
