Books › The second violin, 1906 › scan 173
Scan 173
The second violin, 1906
13 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 147. See the scan on archive.org.
1them, under his breath at first, then—as the captain turned and made vigorous signs to the singer to let his voice be heard—with tunefully swelling notes, which fell upon all their ears like music of a rare sort:
3"The sweetest flower that blows
4 I give you as we part.
5To you it is a rose,
6 To me it is my heart."
8The captain knew, as the voice went on, that those barytone notes were very fine ones—knew better than the rest, as having a wider acquaintance with voices in general. But they all understood that it was to no ordinary singer they were listening.
10When the song ended the captain reached over and laid a brotherly arm on Doctor Churchill's shoulder. "Welcome, friend," he said, with feeling in his voice. "You've given the countersign."
12But the doctor, although he received modestly the words of praise which fell upon him from all about, would sing no more that day. It had been the first time for almost three years. And "The Sweetest Flower That Blows" was not only Mrs. Birch's favourite song; it had been Mrs. Churchill's also.
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