Charles Auchester, Volume 2 (of 2)

ge worthy, while that tells best in words. I was a good deal exhausted for several days after I entered

e and industrious; told me I was not so forward as I might be; drenched me with medicinal advices that lowered my mental system; and, finally, left me

happened that such transmutation could not take place twice, and it had already occurred once. Still,

to eat,-I mean formally, for, in fact, we almost all smuggled into our compartments wherewithal to keep off the natural, which might not amalgamate with the spiritual, constraining appetite. Those early mornings were ineffaceably effective for me; I advanced more according t

however, I laid hold of him coming out of church, when we had fulfilled our darling duties in the choir,-for the choir of our little perfect temple, oak-shaded and sunlit, was composed entirely of Cecilians, and I have not time in this place to dilate upon its force and fulness. Delemann respo

," said I; "how exa

I have an errand thither;" and together we quitted the church

have not come for me, I know," he observed to Delemann, having seated us; "but the girls, having dined, are gone to rest: we don't find it easy to dispense with our siesta. You will surely eat first, for you must be hungry, and I am but just come in." He was, in fact, waiting for the soup, which swiftly followed us; and so we sat down together. Franz then produced a little basket, which I had noticed him to carry very carefully as we came along; but he did not open it, he placed it by his side upon the table. It was covered, and the cover was tied down with green ribbon. I was instantly smitten curious; but a great stay to my curiosity was the deportment of our host. I had seen a good many musicians by this time, and found them every one the alone civilized and polished of the human race; but there were evidences of supremacy in a few that I detected not even in the superior many. Some had enthralled me more than this young Cerinthia for I now know he was young, though at that time he appeared extremely my elder, and I could have believed him even aged; but there was about him an unassuming nobility that bespoke the highest of all educations,-that according to the preparations and purposes of nature. He seemed to live rationally, and I believe he did, though he was not to the immediate perception large-hearted. He ate, himself, with the frugality of Ausonia, but pressed us with cordial attention; and for me, I enjoyed my dinner immen

ce, then looking up at her brother, "Maria i

lying do

ng her hair." We a

e, and Carl Auchester with him; or if you canno

said she should stay in her room; but that if Mr. D

a letter in here, Josephine,

ing over her face that reminded me of her beautiful sister. I saw she was anxiou

d Franz, too, surprised enough; but I did not care, I rose. "She can send

ou back, though I should certainly b

she admit me,

ttle Josephine and then she looked at

me

a door which she left ajar as she enter

heard her say; and then

tle Josephine,

littl

yet there, said, with the loveliest manner, "You will not quarrel with this little thing! But forgive her

for her style instantly ex

ieved from her lost father's library. But upon the whole room there was an atmosphere thrown neither from the gleaming harp nor illustrating volumes; and as my eyes rested upon her, after roving everywhere else, I could only wonder I had ever looked away. Her very dress was such as would have become no other, and was that which she herself invested with its charm. She wore a dark-blue muslin, darker than the summer heaven, but of the self-same hue; this robe was worn loosely, was laced in front over a white bodice. Upon those folds was

cent hair you

u were coming, I should have put it out of the way; but whenever I am l

t home

! have you seen hi

ive, six

e not seen

er mind! He comes to see me, you know, out of

inquired, impatient o

n away a fortnight, conducting

,-w

lace overture an

not hear

patiently; still, there was such sweetness

tell you. He always f

as that in her eye which might b

't know wh

do believe,-I should never have done it in the winter. And all this time I have been

you," sai

I am! Yes, but I do not know who

ery well. Here, then, piccola, carina! you shall

cried; for I knew she m

? It is again fro

ught it like him; but

u are right,-there is

xhaling scent, but still I was surprised. There was no letter. This disappointed me; but there were fresh leaves at the very bottom. My chief companion took out these, and laid each peach upon a leaf: her fingers shone against the downy blush. She presented me with one after another. "Pray eat them, or as many as you can; I do not eat fruit to-day, for it is too hot weather, and she must not eat so many." I instantly began to eat, and made efforts to do even more than I ought

id of me? S

you, and is only shy. Do you never wish t

daresay I shall, now I

ly little creature is not yet

id it co

. He heard a small cry withering under the wheat, and stayed to listen. Most men would not have heard such a weak cry; no man would have stayed to listen, except on

not fond of the mere sentiment almost all women infuse into the sufferings of infer

the lark upon the white table-cloth. The lark tried very hard, and hopped with its best foot to reach the grains, then he drew the four

it kno

ts foot was well; but the next morning I found it outside the window peck

. But you are like him; I suppo

I saw you, and you had seen him long befor

and began to feed, driving in its little bill. I wanted to know something now, and my curiosity in those day

a, that might stop to listen to a bird's

ave said it in the right place. Did anybody ever te

and I clapp

r, if you

aches me t

ch me the violin, bu

w,

to him,

at you are marr

r I should

ou wil

ng should happen to pre

to be so,

tanding dew. "I will not say you are again audacio

e, Fr?ulein

istinction too. S

elieve you whil

must call you little, you are so much less than I,-do you really think I would marry,

anything be more beautiful?" I thought; and now, in pausing, my very memory sobs, heavy laden with pathetic passion. For it was not exactly sorrow, albeit a very woful bliss. She covered her eyes and gave way a moment; then sweeping off the tears with one hand, she

" I responded, at last roused to preternatural comprehension by h

you will one day. But for that, all would be

now I had forgotten all about yo

r that, because it show

I am really, though, mad to hear you sing. Delemann says there never was in Europe a voice

divinest mistakes

lomein. I like you to say '

orities, Maestrino. The Chevalier says I have scar

come to consider, I don't think you look so m

truck me that she was too intuitively modest to talk about herself. B

much like a composer

," she w

you mean to be a compos

valier says that to ac

old me and my sister that the original purpose of the drama is defeated in England, and that instead of bringing the good out of the beautiful, it produces

ld thin

people, think the opera a dreadful place to be seen in, and the theatre

eople put the music at the bottom, and think of it last in this drama. If the music be high, all rise to it; and the higher it is, the higher will all rise. So, the dramatic personification passes naturally into that spiritual height, as the forms of those we love, and their fleeting actions fraught with grace, dissolve into our strong perception of the soul we in them love and long for. The lights and shades of scenery cease to have any meaning in themselves, but again are drawn u

I see your thoughts too, for you would say the sam

is one, but I need hardly name him, who wrote 'Fidelio.' And the Chevalier says if there needed a proof that the highest acting is worthy of the highest music, the highest music of the highest form or outward guise of love in

u for having

in my memory fo

e Chevalier know you

N

nd very soon she went on to say: "Florimond, my friend, is very young, though I look up to him as no

u were only a

valier, thinking he would be so good as to congratulate me, and hoping for such a blessing; but I have never found myself able to bring it out of my lips

so. I wonder what you

of anything

hings, common things he makes so bright; and Franz tells me, and so did another o

sephine about her doll. He did tell me onc

his w

d by her fl

plays to y

t then, you see, I s

were asked. I understand that. You

ring, an echo of his voice ever sleepless in my brain

with quickness, "I wil

rom her spirit; she shone upon me in rising,-so seemed her smile. "Oh!" I cried eagerl

s and sanctions when on it our thoughts repose, for it our affections languish. Her arms still rested behind and before the strings as she tuned them; still her hair swept that cloud upon the softness of her cheek, toned the melancholy arch of her brow: but the deep rose-hues of her now drooping mantle, and the Italian azure of her robe, did not retrieve the fancy to any earthly apparition. They seemed but transparent and veil-like media through which the whiteness of light found way in colors that sheathed an unendurable naked lustre. I thought not in such words, but such thoughts were indeed mine; and while I was yet gazing,-dreaming, I should say, for I ever dream on beauty,-she played some long, low chords, attenuated golden thwarting threads of sound, and began forthwith to sing. She sang in German, and her song was a prayer for rest,-a Sunday song, as little Josephine said afterwards to me. But it might have been a lay of revenge, of war, or of woe, for all I heard that the words conveyed, as I could not exist except in the voice itself, or the spirit o

little song? It is

observed Josephin

ied, and started. "I

ou must then hear it again; and Josephine shall sing it,

have I to do with voices? I mean style. Josephine's voice was crude as a green whortleberry; its sadness was sour, its strength harsh; though a vo

ach part is a separate soul, the counterpoint a subtle, fiery chain imprisoning the soul in bliss. Ineffable as was that air,-ineffable as is every air of his,-I longed to be convinced it had been put together by a man. I could not, and I cannot to this hour, associate anything

wine. I can feel for you, if you are delicate in hea

ever the better for it. I believe I was bor

if it is not that

ty strong; I can w

and on my hair, and turning my face to hers

? for I am s

n I would have you not

delicate, Fr?u

icians." She suddenly ceased, passed one hand over her face. She did not stir, but I hea

ything for y

lesome the person who sent those fruits could not come instea

! why, what ar

voice; "but so much older than you are in every sense. I

she had not the same fresh bloom and unfatigued brightness as when I entered. She did not detain me, though she said, "Call me Maria, please; I