Charles Auchester, Volume 2 (of 2)

t not for his own sake. I watched every movement and gesture,-every intimation of his being, separable from his musical nature and dissociated from his playing. He seemed to think me very inattent

rning, sir?" he inquired, in that ea

replied. With his large eyes on mine, I felt rather scorched,

The next Sunday you

on't prevent my think

s. As you have not control enough to fasten your mind on your own a

uietly. I need not say we were alone. After my lesson, ju

bout to endure. We shall have a concert next m

ed, "I cannot

te when you are aware who appoin

valier who appointed me, I don't beli

t, in the lesser hall; there will be nobody present but the band. The Chevalier will hold his own rehearsal the week after next, for there

vo,

t it is no bravo at present,

exhibitions to us being confined to short passages we could not surmount,-bar upon bar, phrase upon phrase, here

demonstrations of the alto trombone. He was so ardent over that metallic wonder of his that I had to pluck his sleeve. Even then he would not leave off, at the risk of splitting that short upper lip of his by his involuntary smile, until he had finished what lay

e is Anastase not to let m

me this morning, and the strings were to f

nd soon I beheld him afar off, at the top of the wooden platform, on whose raised steps we stood, taking his place by the tenor trombone,-a gentleman of adult appearance who

limmer of a countenance, nor the shine of two eyes. The door-bolts were drawn inside; there was a great and prevalent awe. The lamps hung over us, but not lighted; the sun was a long way from bed yet, and so were we. Anastase kept us at "L'Amour Fugitif" and "Euryanthe,"-I mean, their respective overtures,-a good while, and was very quiet all the time, until our emancipation in the "Mer de

tier aspirations my constant soul; but that his creation did indeed not only first affect me beyond all analysis of feeling, but cause upon me, and through me, a change to pass,-did first recreate, expurge of all earthly; and then inspire, surcharged with heavenly hope and holiest ecstasy. Th

rated, not broken, by a serpentine phrase of one lone oboe, pianissimo over the piano surface, which it crisped not, but on and above which it breathed like the track of a sunbeam aslant from a parted cloud. The slightest possible retardation at its close brought us to the refrain of the simple adagio, interrupted again by a rush of violoncello notes, rapid and low, like some sudden under-current striv

ess of the first. I have called it tumultuous, but merely in respect of rhythm; the harmonies were as clear and evolved as the modulation itself was sharp, keen, unanticipated, unapproachable. Through every bar reigned

ts-were certain swelling crescendos of a second subject, so unutterably, if vaguely, sweet that the souls of all dee

lf as music; yet there are assuredly effects produced by musi

As soon as it was over, I looked up and laughed in his face with sheer pleasure; but he made no sign, nor was there the slightest evidence of the strenuous emotion to which he had been abandoned,-no flush of cheek nor flash of eye, only the least possible closer contraction of the slight lips. He did nothing but find fault, and his authority appeared absolute; for when he reprimanded Iskar in particular, and called him to

ured to ask him whether I could carry anythi

in that closet," pointing to a wooden box behind the platform; "but d

qualled; his expression in no case approached. Santonio's playing dwindled in my mind, for Anastase, though so young, performed with a pointedness altogether mature; it was that on which to repose unshifting security for the most ardent musical interest; yet, with all its solidity, it was not severe even in the strictest passages. Of all playing I ever heard on my adopted instrument, and I have heard every first-rate and every medium performer in Europe, it was the most forceful,-let this term suffice just here. I said to him when he had finished with me, "How much f

n't want a

d I cannot ha

become again unapproachable. I had not gained an inch nearer ground to him, really, ye

oad. The day before was even something beyond romance. After dinner we all met in the garden-house, as we called the pillared alcove, to arrange the decorations for our hall, which were left entirely to ourselves, at our united request. About fifty of us were of one mind, and, somehow or other, I got command of the whole troop,-I am sure I did not mean to put myself so. I sent out several in different directions to gather oak-branches and lim

Past the professors' rooms I walked; and I have not yet mentioned the name of Thauch, our nominal superintendent, the appointed of the Chevalier, who always laughingly declared he had selected him because he knew nothing about music, to care for us out of music. Thauch sat at the head of the middle table, and we scarcely saw him otherwise or spoke to him; thus I was astonished, and rather appalled, to be called upon by him when I reached his room, which was enclosed, and where

laugh put his arms about me and took me to my sister. When once she had kissed me, and I had felt her soft face and the shape of her lips, and smelled the scent of an Indian box at home that clung to her silk handkerchief yet, I cried, and she cried too; but we were both quiet enough about it,-she I only knew was crying by her cheek pressing wet against mine. After a few moments so unutterable, I put myself away from her, and began distinctly to perceive the strangeness of our position. Millicent, as I examined her, seemed to hav

into my eyes,-"now, Charles, tell me what you mean by growing so tall and being s

and I threw my arms about him, and clung on

d about it. Oh, Millicent, how did you get her to let you come? And, oh," suddenly it struck me very forcibly, "how very s

expression, a new light in her eyes, that h

f I had not given her that bonnet, for which she scol

ght. I ran to Millicent, and whispered into that same

the ring-oh, how strange I felt,-hot and cold; glad and sorry; excited, and yet s

had anticipated any objection on your p

laughing, "but why did th

that we wished to spare

think I could, even for your wedding, Millicent,

have become! We knew it; and it was I who persuaded yo

, looking into Davy's face as if perfectly at home wit

ly reminded, "what did you wear

, Charles, and Miss Ben

"Millicent gratified us both by askin

ome?" I asked,

les; she

t," I thought, thoug

e table; and so beautiful she made it look that everybody was astonis

you going to live here? What will the class do? Oh, t

lau

estion at a time! We have been marr

led and

remember it. And I have not left my little house, but I have ma

How delicious! Oh, Millicent, do you like

r, and the Chevalier, and we do not even know his name from you. Clo says whenever your letters come, 'I wish

ith a sparkling eye, "how, then, shall we see him, and whe

and he is coming to conduct his new overture,-only his new overture, mi

ing strange to hear you say 'our concert.' How entirely yo

owing pride that it was quite as much as I could do to answer

edict wrong! What if I had kept you in my class? But, Millicent, we must not stay," he adde

a. "A great many of them go out to see their friends and have the

ntrance the day before a concert, and thought it a wise regulation too. They made an ex

going, then?

, that we may see something of you out of study. You

er shal

now, C

they are waiting for me, I daresay. All those flowers, too, that you made m

ome one wanting to speak

hispered, "Do not mind us. Fr?ulein Cerinthia is gone to fetch her brother; and while they are at

n them off. Then Davy begged me to come directly, and I hurried to my room and took him with me. How vain I felt to show him my press, my screen, my portmanteau full of books, and my private bed, my violin,

you should be my brother! I shall never be ab

atever you please. I

e, am I tidy,-fit to walk w

g ceremony in her only box,-and, let me tell you, Charles, you are high

e that, sir," s

hy not

ne of them travel about with musli

ered Davy, pursuing me as I ran; but I escaped him, and rejoined

re and passive enjoyment, in which we exist. How exquisitely happy was I on this evening, for example! The prospect of the morrow so intensel

ed a present for my brother and sister in the shape of two concert-tickets, which, contrary to Tedescan custom, were issued f

nd she looked up at Davy; "I should

ank Charles for introducing me to you;" and

iful Jewess at our window before you knew who lived in our hous

n a manner that convi

ran away one morning. The Chevalier says tha

is much amused me. After our tea-a real home tea, which quite choked my unaccustomed faculties at first-Davy put his wife on the sofa, and with a bright authority there was no resisting, bade her be still while he fetched m

said Millicent, "and is exactly

ake to one's friends. I need only mention a white favor or two, and a fr