When the ringing of the spoon was too quiet to be heard through the aircould it be heard through the strings?

The phrase suggests a metaphorical connection between the spoon's ringing and the strings, implying that even if the sound is too faint to be audible through the air, it might still resonate on a different level or through a different medium. This could symbolize the idea that emotions or messages can still be communicated even when they're not overtly expressed. Ultimately, it emphasizes the power of subtlety and the potential for deeper understanding beyond surface sounds.