Похищенный
Chapter 25
“Ay,yecanblow”saidAlan;andtakingtheinstrumentfromhisrival,hefirstplayedthesamespringinamanneridenticalwithRobin’s;andthenwanderedintovariations,which,ashewenton,hedecoratedwithaperfectflightofgrace-notes,suchaspiperslove,andcallthe“warblers.”
IhadbeenpleasedwithRobin’splaying,Alan’sravishedme.
“That’snoverybad,Mr.Stewart,”saidtherival,“butyeshowapoordeviceinyourwarblers.”
“Me!”criedAlan,thebloodstartingtohisface.“Igiveyethelie.”
“Doyeownyourselfbeatenatthepipes,then,”saidRobin,“thatyeseektochangethemforthesword?”
“Andthat’sverywellsaid,Mr.Macgregor,”returnedAlan;“andinthemeantime”(layingastrongaccentontheword)“Itakebackthelie.IappealtoDuncan.”
“Indeed,yeneedappealtonaebody,”saidRobin.“Ye’reafarbetterjudgethananyMaclareninBalquhidder:forit’saGod’struththatyou’reaverycreditablepiperforaStewart.Handmethepipes.”Alandidasheasked;andRobinproceededtoimitateandcorrectsomepartofAlan’svariations,whichitseemedthatherememberedperfectly.
“Ay,yehavemusic,”saidAlan,gloomily.
“Andnowbethejudgeyourself,Mr.Stewart,”saidRobin;andtakingupthevariationsfromthebeginning,heworkedthemthroughouttosonewapurpose,withsuchingenuityandsentiment,andwithsooddafancyandsoquickaknackinthegrace-notes,thatIwasamazedtohearhim
