Books › The second violin, 1906 › scan 24
Scan 24
The second violin, 1906
13 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 4. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE SECOND VIOLIN one of two readings
3(no line here) one of two readings
4Charlotte tucked her instrument under a sulky, round chin, raised her bow and waited, her eyes on the floor. Celia, smiling, softly tried her strings.
6"That's it, precisely," began the leader, still with irritation. "Celia tunes between practice; Charlotte takes it for granted she's all right and fires ahead. Your E string is off!"
8The second violin grudgingly tightened the E string; then all her strings in turn, lengthening the process as much as possible. The 'cello did the same—the 'cello always stood by the second violin. Jeff gave Charlotte a glance of loyalty. His G string had been flatter than her E.
10Lansing wheeled about and picked up his instrument, carefully trying its pitch. He gave the signal, and the "March of the Pilgrims" began—in the remote distance. The double-bass viol gripped his bow with his stubby twelve-year-old fingers, and hardly breathed as he strove to keep his notes subdued. The 'cello murmured a gentle undertone; the first violin sang as sweetly and delicately as a bird, her legato perfect. The second violin fingered her notes through, but the voice of her instrument was not heard at all.
12The leader glanced at her once, with a frown between his fine eyebrows, but Charlotte
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.