I
would have given something myself that it had been on none; but the
hearers were much awed. I called for a tune or two, and thus
introduced myself to the notice of the brother, who directed his talk
to me for some little while, keeping, I need hardly mention, true to
his topic, like the seamen to the star. 'He's grand of it,' he said
confidentially. 'His master was a music-hall man.' Indeed the
music-hall man had left his mark, for our fiddler was ignorant of
many of our best old airs; 'Logie o' Buchan,' for instance, he only
knew as a quick, jigging figure in a set of quadrilles, and had never
heard it called by name. Perhaps, after all, the brother was the
more interesting performer of the two. I have spoken with him
afterwards repeatedly, and found him always the same quick, fiery bit
of a man, not without brains; but he never showed to such advantage
as when he was thus squiring the fiddler into public note. There is
nothing more becoming than a genuine admiration; and it shares this
with love, that it does not become contemptible although misplaced.
The dancing was but feebly carried on.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49