I am so sorry,' she said. 'I will try to do better now.'Alas for the word. The adagio called for subtle phrasing, and it called in vain: she cast him several apologetic looks until a particularly wild aberration made him pause, his bow in the air, when she laid her hands in her lap and said 'Shall we go back to the beginning?''By all means,' said Stephen. But it was not a successful experiment: between them they slowly murdered poor Contarini, Maturin now playing as badly as his partner, and when his A string broke with a solemn twang two thirds of the way through the adagio there was a general feeling of relief.
The passage describes a moment of tension during a music practice, where one person expresses regret and hopes to improve. Despite her intentions, the effort to fix their playing culminates in a comical failure as both participants struggle, leading to a feeling of defeat. The interaction between them is marked by a mix of frustration and awkwardness, highlighting their inability to communicate effectively through music.
As they attempt to restart the piece, their combined efforts result in a dismal performance, humorously leading to the demise of Contarini. The breaking of the A string adds to the relief of the situation, suggesting that sometimes, abandoning a difficult endeavor can bring about a needed reprieve. Overall, the scene captures the challenges of collaboration and the imperfections that accompany artistic expression.
