"Glad to see you!" exclaimed the little doctor, bubbling over with
happiness, and wringing the long fingers extended. "My wife is overcome
with delight," which the big German understood very well; and he smiled
his knowledge of it, as he looked into her black eyes. "She is like to
mein Frau," he thought, having no higher praise. And then he turned
quickly to Polly and Jasper.
XXI
ON THE RIGI-KULM
For all that grand old Rigi's summit claimed them, it was some time
before Mr. King's party left the little parlour. Herr Bauricke surely
didn't want to until he had gotten it settled just what he did mean
about Polly's music. That she showed great promise, that some faults in
the way she had been taught were there, but it was by no means too late
to mend them, that she had spirit and expression and love for the art.
"Ah, dat is eet, after all." Herr Bauricke clasped his long fingers and
beamed at her, and then swept the entire party. "Lofe, ah, how one must
lofe eet! Eef not, shame, shame!" His countenance darkened frightfully,
and he fairly glared at them, as he unclasped his hands and swung one
over his head, while his black beard vibrated with each word.
"Goodness me!" exclaimed Tom Selwyn, "it takes a musical man to sling
around. I say, Jasper, I'd like to do a bit of boxing or cricketing
with him." But Jasper didn't hear or see anything but Herr Bauricke and
Polly; and, indeed, the whole room was given up to the "musical man"
and his words.
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