The Upas Tree: A Christmas Story for all the Year

pzig, sat on either side

ute for the open fires blazing merrily in England on this chill November evening; yet giving v

Leipzig landlady, who owned and had furnished it, and of t

er arrived. It served, however, as a resting-place for a violin, and a pile of music; while, on the opposite side of the

available flat space, saving the table

e empty chair in the centre, its dark brown polished surface reflecting the glow of the fire, lean

ard, elbows on knees, eyes alight with e

n. When he spoke his voice was calm and deliberate, his manner exceedingly quiet. His method of conversation was of the kind which d

fty pounds for an instrument you have no notion of playing. I

shall be able to play it when I try; a

a sampl

uty! Look at those curves, and that wonderful polish, like the richest brown of the very darkest horse-chestnut you ever saw in a bursting bur! See how the silver stri

he 'In

an Infant of Days who was a hundred years old, and young at that? Helen will love the Infant. She will polish it with a

oss at Helen's cousin; but Aubrey Treherne inst

ubt you have been fortunate enough to pick up a

erview the publishers. I had a mass of 'copy' to show them, because I have been writing incessantly the whole way home. Curiously enough, since I left Africa, I have

st the reverse of th

fitter in my life-as

ing eyes and flushed face-the feverish blo

y fit," he said. "W

necessary exams, and taken every possible degree. He is now looking out for a practice, and meanwhile a big man in London has sent him out to investigate one of these queer water friction cures-professes to cure catar

ass of manuscript, which resulted from having acquired in Central Africa the useful habit of not needing more than half an hour of sleep in the twenty-four; whi

said Ronnie. "Am I sp

se; and I can dispense with sleep for once. It is not often one has the chance of spending a night in the company of a noted author, an African travel

to advantage in the exceedingly plain brown canvas bag which was all they could give me at Zim

ll advise a bassinet by night

plexed. "Why a ba

fant, y

lations in Leipzig connected with things you may not do in the streets, that probably if you took a 'cello out of its case and stood admiring it in the midst of the crowded thoroughfare, you would get run in by a policeman. Dick said: 'Arrest of the Infant of Prague in the

urned a shade paler. His thin lips c

eat stickler for respectability. Well? So you

er face took on a

pose undressin

to take it ou

o our absurd police regulations you were pre

re he ceased to take any interest in my 'cello, clapped me

"They can never let their own particular trade alone. I

mometer, and we had a fine chase after the quicksilver. You never saw anything like it! It ran like a rabbit, in and out of the nooks and cor

ily convinced your friend th

ave further bother; also another dose which he brought to the hotel. Then he insisted on leaving a bottle out

n a tub and being scrubbed with a dish-

ly look us up at about ten o'clock this evening. I told him I might be here pretty late. I did not kno

d!" said Aubrey Treherne. "Now tell

y felt impelled to look to the top of the highest cabinet, and there I saw the Infant! I knew instantly that that was the 'cello I must have. It seemed mine already. It seemed as if it always had been mine. I asked to be shown some violoncellos. They produced two or three, in which I took no interest. Then I said: 'Get down that dark brown one, third from the end.' They lifted it down, and, from the moment I touched it, I knew it must be mine! They told me it was made at Prague, a

btedly

rings," continued Ronnie; "supplied me wit

or the organ?" inqu

have a more expensive one. She is alw

y happens to an impecunious f

said. "During the past twelve months I have mad

. "But I suppose she can never forget the fact

t sprang t

! She found them out, I admit; but I paid them every one myself, with the first

leapt to his feet. The Infant of Prague leaned calmly against its chair, reflecting the fire in its polished surfac

understand that she had paid your debts. No doubt this was not the case. We all kno

own moodily

nd out with whom it originated. But you are a good fellow to

other hand women rarely speak the truth. What will my good cous

said Ronnie, angrily. "I can do

" smiled Aub

d creep under her thumb. I am grateful to you for having saved me from that fate

ed at once to Aubrey his comple

ere ever in love wit

Aubrey Treherne. "Others, besides you

are grip. Indignant and furious, he yet felt

g earnestly: "My cousin Aubrey is not a good m

nce of Helen, broug

d, with quiet dignity; "nor my relations

must pardon the indiscretion of cousinly interest. Te

of authorship now

excepting to Helen, until t

ut you might tell me why this one took you

One cannot possibly understand, until one gets there and does it, what it is li

emarked Aubrey. "So unusual a sett

ng I have done yet," sai

or various literary columns, on Ronnie's work. Already he began wording the terse sentences in which he would point out the feebl

nlike your other b

nglish; just of our own set, and our own surroundings. I wanted somethi

ht have let him make love in another man's garden. Stolen frui

d Ronnie. "That woul

Regained," mu

Besides-Helen

d Aubrey. "So your

appeal to me as subjects for romance. But, if they did, I certainly should not feel free

mocked Aubrey Treherne. "No wonder

onald, with some heat, "we will ceas

tirely congenial topic. I wonder how long this dear child has remained dumb. I have seen many fine instruments in my time, Wes

and enthusiasm wer

ateful. I do not even k

the instrument, resting it against his kne

u can remember them, because they stand for 'Allowable Delights Grow C

he bow, rasped it with uncertain touch across them. The Infant squealed, as if in dire pain. Ronnie wince

layed the violin with ease, should not be able to

lo is a difficult instrument to play, and requires long p

il of anguish g

ds. "Let me try," he said. "It must be

tent came into his face. He slipped his left hand up and down

tched him

used. A sudden remembrance seemed

the shoulder of the Infant, out

me I really play, must be in the studio, and Helen mu

and waited, the light of expe

kable correctness of the positi

w it, with unfaltering touch, acr

filled the room. The Infant of Prague was singi

reath came in short sobs. He had completely forgotten the

. He raised the bow once

use. Then, with a strong tri

e 'cello had given forth th

, Helen!"

up, and saw A

nt it seemed as if I must be at home. I was experiencing the purest joy I have k

onderful is that you-who believe yourself never to have handled a 'cello before-can set the strings vibrating with such un

of it all?" inquir

ent. It called to you from its high place in the 'cello room at Zimmermann's, as it has been calling to you for years; only, at last, it made you hear. It was yo

deepened. His eyes gre

on't think Helen would like it, and I am pe

does not require to go through the mill of learning all the rudiments before music can express itself through him, because the soul of music is in him. He plays by instinct-some folk call it inspiration. Technical, skill he may have to acquire-his fingers are new to it. The understanding of notation he may have to master again-the brain he uses consciously is also of fresh construction. But the sub-conscious self, the Ego of the man, the real eternal soul of him, leaps back with joy to the thing he has done perfectly before. He is a born musician; just as

indeed Helen would question it; and not only so, but

teachers. She would come under the heading of those who refuse

lexity. "You have completely cornered me. Bu

ould have burst forth along its normal lines. As they merely taught you the alphabet and grammar, your creative faculty turned to literature; you wrote romances full of music, instead o

moment he seemed to become more certain that he had indeed,

he empty chair; and, leaning forward, to look at him steadily, with her clear earnest eyes. She s

, at last. "Do you r

believed Helen would have answered; and he

is not a truth required by us now. Our obvious duty in the present is to live this l

tered, substituted: "Quite right. This existence is a preparation f

press Helen, and gave ve

old muddle of all our r

rance of past possessions, and the expectation of future enjoyment. In the life which preceded this, Helen was probably my wife,

his head, as if about to bring it down, with a crashing blow, upon Aubrey. "Damned old sh

'damn.' And in those days, dear boy, we did not use shoe-blacking. Pray calm yourself, and sit down. You are upsetting the

suddenly gave way beneath him. The floor on wh

he came very near to being my wife in this. She was engaged to me before she ever met you, my boy. Had it not been for the interference of that stro

blood-red, leaping up and dow

calm, lovely figure, in a shaft of su

ered across the intervening space, and struc

and for a moment the two

k deeply into the sand; and Aubrey, forcing him

ld kill you for this, you clown! But I mean to kiss Helen again; and life, while it holds that prospect, is too

between Ronnie and that livid bleeding face, and he sank away-