Disclaimer: I don't own the Music Man or any of its characters; I'm just borrowing them.
"Trouble! Oh we got trouble! Right here in River City…"
Harold Hill beamed as he surveyed the chattering townspeople from his perch on the statue. He especially enjoyed Marcellus' expression of bewildered amazement. His old comrade in chicanery had asserted such a triumph was impossible, but with nothing more than a little fast talking, the great Professor Hill had gotten the full attention of these stubborn, neck-bowed Iowans.
A less-experienced salesman might have tried making his pitch then, but Harold knew there were limits to the number of ideas a man could handle at once. Best not to overwhelm these simple folk with the grandeur of a boys' band too soon – their excitement would burn out before he could even get a finger into their boodle bags. Now that he had gotten the crowd whipped up into a frenzy, Harold would ease up and let the "problem" of a pool table simmer in the River City folks' minds for a day or two like sauce on the stove.
Ah! But what was this? A young woman was marching primly toward them. Who was this lovely creature? Harold glanced at Marcellus, who mimed playing a piano. Harold nodded and returned the gesture with a grin. So this was the maiden librarian! She appeared to be in her early to mid twenties – a lot younger than Harold had expected – and she was quite beautiful, with her honey-blonde ringlets and crimson lips.
Hopping nimbly to the ground, Harold bounded over to the woman, who did not give the slightest indication she had seen his approach. As he followed her home, he laughed to himself to think what a chore he would have had if the mayor's shrewish wife had indeed been the librarian. But as Harold had told Marcellus earlier, he wouldn't have let that stop him. After all, a seller of boys' bands who couldn't read a note had to do something to keep the local music teacher quiet – as pretty or ugly as she may be. Harold would have cozied up to Medusa, if his success had depended on it.
But luck was on his side, this trip. After the homely old Gorgons of the last few towns, it was a downright pleasure to finally hit upon a music teacher who was not only passable, but gorgeous. Professor Hill would seduce this librarian – and he would enjoy it. And so would she, if the ardent declarations of devotion from his past conquests were any indication of his prodigious skill in the art of lovemaking.
Harold stepped in front of the lady and waved his hat. But she moved around him with barely a break in her measured stride. Though he had been rejected, he couldn't help admiring the grace with which she dodged his advances.
He pulled out a pink handkerchief and tried again. "Did you drop your…"
"No," she said icily.
He took her arm as she breezed past him. "Didn't I meet you in…"
"No!"
"I'll only be in town a short while," he said, making one last attempt as she walked up her front steps.
As the librarian entered the house, she turned and glared at him. "Good!" she retorted, slamming the door closed.
Harold shrugged and put on his hat. Marcellus had been right – this was one stuck-up woman. He surveyed her house with a cool eye. In the cramped parlor, which was clearly visible despite the lace curtains covering the windows, a little girl with two long, dark pigtails plunked out a song on an upright piano. As Harold pondered whether or not this was a challenge worth pursuing, a matronly woman opened the parlor window and peered outside.
Not wanting to be caught lollygagging, Harold skedaddled down the street. If the librarian didn't warm to him, surely he could find a more amiable lady somewhere in this provincial little town!