Charles Auchester, Volume 1 of 2

fect, so flexible; but it was not only not difficult to keep in, it was impos

strength by a might scarcely mortal: but I dare not anticipate my after acquaintance with a musician who, himself supreme, has alone kn

as it was, I was nearly pressed to death. Everybody was talking; a clamor filled the air. I saw Lenhart Davy afar off, but he could not get to me. He looked quite white, and his eyes sparkled. As for m

y surrounded by gentlemen, the members of the committee. I knew they were there, bustling, skurrying, and I listened to their intrusive tones. As the chorus press

in two or three steps I cleared the gallery. Once in the refreshment room, I snatched a glass jug that stood in a pail filled with lumps of ice, and a tumbler, and made away with them before the lady who was superintending that table had turned her head. I had never a stumbling footstep, a

hidden. I advanced very quietly, but he heard me, and without raising himself from the

ancing with a tray, and dreading to be supplanted, I looked up with desperate entreaty. The unknown stretched his arm and raised the glass, taking it from me,

but absent air, paused one moment, and now, as if res

; but there was an almost pitying sweetness in his tone as he addressed me. I shal

s water than wine! Thank you for the trouble you took to fetch it

d him, eagerly, without being abl

all, the little ones;" an

himself, alone, by himself companioned. And in an agony of fear lest I should intr

t voice so often since, have listened to it in a trance of life, I can never realize it,-it was too

passages as I was running back. I fell, in fa

d me sorely. I thought I had lost you, I did indeed, and ha

into words, I exclaimed ecstatically, "Oh, Mr. Davy

did not expect you would blow into an hero quite so soon. And is our hero up there s

ot come down, though they asked him; and he said he would only drink a glass of water, and I heard him, for I wait

, or I shall have to fetch you a glass of water. I am really afrai

y; but do tell me

at I could hardly think him the same person, "unless,

the remark. "No, no! it is not Milans-André. Mr. Hermann, the leader, has seen Milans-André i

r in Germany than we do in England;" but he spoke as if

avy? But he does l

is more like one of your favorite Jew

ther, one of the professors in th

but I should have thought Monsieur André must be o

s more th

y boy, we must not stand here; we shall lose our old places. Do not f

at it would ever end. I felt it cruel then, but perhaps

ong excitement, but the whole time the chorus lasted, "Behold the Lamb of God!" I could not sing. I stood and sobbed; but even then I had respect to Davy's neatly copied alto sheet, and I

e my figure, I awoke again at the conclusion of the chorus to a deep, rapturous serenity, pure as

"Hallelujah." It was as close, as clear, and the power that bound the band alike constrained the chorus; both seemed freed from all

mmencement of the performance; besides, a breathless curiosity brooded, as distinctly to be traced in the countenance of the crowd as in their thrilling quietude,-for thrilling it was indeed, though not so thrilling as the outbreak, the tempest out-rolling of pent-up satisfaction at the

began to fluctuate, he bent a little in acknowledgment, but nevertheless preserved the same air of indifference and abstraction from all about, beneath him. Lingering only until the w

the night before was in vain attacked by spies on every errand. The landlord could only say what he knew himself,-that he was a stranger who had visi

her disturbances of a similar description. Davy took me home, and then set off to his own house, where he always seemed to have so much to do; and all my people were very kind to me in listening, while I, more calmly than any one would believe, expatiated upon our grand adventure. I was extremely amused to see how astonished Clo

hocked to perceive a little tarnished). I was so angry that I felt myself turn quite sick; but I was good enough only to answer, "You wo

e a beautiful face again. You will never

," replied Millicent,

you who must pity me, because you do not kn

round; but as I was put to bed directly