Charles Auchester, Volume 2 (of 2)

sations, as usual, began to be peculiar. I don't think anybody can love summer better than I do, can more approvedly languish o

er slave the livelong eleven months besides, to have that month a holiday. So it happened now; and though I had no absolute right to leave my pupils and desert the first stones of my musical masonry just laid and smoothed, I was obliged to think that if I were to have a holiday at all, I had better take it then. But

orner, over her own book, was unwontedly excited; "here

ngland this very summer; though to remain in strict seclusion, he would not be inaccessible to professors. He brought w

t, for I chose to do so when alone, and waited until after breakfast. It was a choice little supplement to that choicest of all invites for my spirit and heart,-a note on foreign paper; the graceful, firm character of the writing found no difficul

save those all worthy of herself; she had accepted, after much c

to like it. You will give me a little of your advice, dear sir, if I need it, as perhaps I may; but I hope not, because I have troubled you too much already. I trust your lit

s very idiosyncrasy. I could but think, "Is it possible that she has not alt

n limbo still longer, disconcerted him a little; but he was the first to say I must surely go to London. The only thing to be discovered was wh

nderings Clara and the Chevalier had met; but still I thought and prophesied not. I was really reluctant to leave Davy with his hands and head full, that I might saunter with my own in kid-gloves, and swarming with May fancies; but for on

unge into the surrounding country that lingers yet as a dream upon her day reality, with which dreams suit not ill, and from which they seldom part. I love the heart of London, in whose awful deeps reflect the mysterious unfathomable of every secret, and where t

ry time, and by no long weary journey, though on foot, a quiet road, which by a continuous but gentle rise carried me to t

But the wall I followed gave me not a transient glimpse of gardens inwards, so thickly blazed the laburnums and the paler flames of the rich acacia, not to speak of hedges all sweet-brier, matted into one embrace with double-blossomed hawthorn. I passed garden after garden and gate after gate, seeing no one; for the great charm of those regions consists in the extreme privacy of every habitation,-privacy which th

y paradise of fragrance. It was built of wood, and had its roof-hung windows and drooping eaves protected by a spreading chestnut-tree, whose great green fans beat coolness against every lattice, and whose blossoms had kindled their rose-white tapers at the sun. The garden was so full of flowers that one could scarcely bear the sweetness, except that the cool chestnut shadow dashed the breeze with fres

his was as it should be, the very door-bell dressed with flowers; but more as it should be, it was that Thoné opened the door. I was almost ready to disappear again, but that her manner was the most reassuring to troublesome nerves. She did not appear to have any idea who I was, nor did she even stare when I present

ut me for a moment, hid my hat in confusion under a chair, saw that the round table had a bowl of flowers in its centre, caught sight

ountry, a sea of green, flushed here and there with a bloomy level, or a breeze upon the crimson clover; odorous bean-fields quivered, and their scent was floating everywhere,-it drowned the very garden sweetness, and blended in with waftures of unknown fragrance, all wild essences shed from woodbines, from dog-roses, and the new-cut grass, or plumy meadow-sweet, by the water

t,-the soft thrall of the suspense that bound me intertwining itself with mine "electric chain" as that May-dream m

light that burst through the folding-door, which had, however, again closed when I turned, for the tread was so silent I might otherwise have gone dreaming on. Cla

I could but stand and gaze; nor did she seem surprised, nor did her eyes droop, nor her fair cheek mantle:

intained that strange regard. I put out my hand, and in an instant she gre

Miss Benette. It was very

iged to you, and I am very pleased also. Please sit down, sir, for you have been standing, I am afraid, a lo

, to see such a window as this. How did yo

don't know what they mean by its being too near London. I must be nea

treets, and lose half my purpose. Still, it must be almost a temptation to indulge a certain

k it is too much, for it makes me well; and I cannot work wh

s Benette? Am I very much changed? It is

our inseparable companion,-you always had a look of i

never heard your opinion in old times. I was a very silly boy then,

t all events, if you are still as modest as you were, it is a great blessing now you have become a soul which bears so great a part. If I must speak truth, ho

say so, have not al

s behind, she still preserved those baby-curls upon her temples, nor had a shade more majesty gathered to her brow,-the regal innocence was throned there, and looked forth from her eyes as from a shrine; but it was evident that there was nothing about her from head to foot on which she piqued herself,-a rare shortcoming of feminine maturity. The only perceptible difference in the face was when sh

olutely to speak; I should so infinitely have preferred to watch her

s you who have lived in all the stir unti

and indeed I know, have had every kind of excitement ready mad

excitement ti

the same so bravely? We have heard of you here, and it must

for I knew they were not real, and that I should get through them soon, and very glad should I be; s

o, then, and to shock yourself, a

the mistakes they have made about it. I act and I sing, because that is what I can do best; but my idea of music goes with yours, and therefore I am not excited as I should be, if I were filling up a place such as that which you fill; though I would not leave my own for any consideration, and hope to continue in it. My excitement since I came here, where most ladies would be dull or sick, has arisen from the feeling that I am brought into contact with what is most li

me to remain and dine with her. It was about two o'clock, and I

o a door beyond us, when, removing her little hand from my arm,

pe you will remember an old friend o

s lined with warmer hues than the airy drawing-room, but white muslin curtains made sails within the

ance. Had it not been for her name, which touched my memory, I

I was called upon by my reminding chivalry to assist the hostess in the dissection of spring chickens and roasted lamb, and there was somethin

all traces of the snowy damask were swept out by a pair of careful hands, and we were left alone with the cut decanters, the early strawberries, and sweet summer oranges, I did determine to look, f

scles,-but for a certain sharpness of outline her countenance would have been languid in repose; her brow retained its singular breadth, but had not gained in elevation; her eyes were large and lambent, fringed with lashes that swept her cheek,

leeves dropped upon her arms, which were loaded with bracelets of all kinds, while she wore a splendid chain upon her neck. She bore this over effect very well, and would not have

to say, after I had contemplated her to my satisfa

you, Mr.

ester, which you cannot imagine," said Cl

ed me. But I have been thinking it is a very curious thing that we should meet i

e difference is, not that we are grown up, but that when we met on the

I dare,"

would Clara; perhaps I might

t I dare not say now? I

, smiling; "I think it is hard

You thought me very vulgar, and you told m

ave forgotten it now, Miss Lemark, as I thin

ecisely against your taste. Even Clara does not approve of it, a

than I can; it does not suit me to wear colors, and you look like a

d hues are starting out of every old stone. But Miss Lemark could afford to

lost; she drew in the corners of her mouth, and turned a shade colder, if not paler, in comp

u know that you look well in anything, because nobody looks at anything

f, Laura," she answered, and then she ask

observer insensibly from her. After dinner Clara rose, and I made some demonstration of going, which she met so that I could not refuse her invitation to remain at least an hour or two. We all three retired into the little draw

, by your kind present to my little niece, that y

nce I had a baby to work for; and when Mr. Davy sent me word in such joy that

bliged to you on a former

that I did not accept Mr. Davy's hand, or

membering whose handiwork gr

ne like that exactly, because I desired that should be unique. You ha

with him and his music, only suppressing that which I was in the habit of reserving, even in my own mind, from my conscious self. In the midst of my relation, Laura, a

r?" said Clara, half amused, but

that young lady, and you see I was agreeably

that you might prefer not to do so, because you are not one, sir, to

self of the disposition to criticise, I am not inconvertible. I admire Miss Lemark

nt less than 'distinguishe

yourself, and that when she has lived with you a littl

e two years now, and has most likely taken as much from me by imit

might find, to exist a grea

If your dissympathy means not to agree in sentiment, I do not know that any two bodies could agree quite in feeling, nor would it be so pleasant as to be alone in

ot heard of this grace, or muse, taking leave to furl her wings

h it until lately,-I mean, since I was in Italy. We met then, as we said we would. I carried her from Paris, where she was alone with every one but those who should have befriended her;

hat Laura had never been born, but o

in London? She looks

t present. I cannot tell what she may do, however

descend to accompany me. There is a great deal more that I cannot help wishing

I would certainly rather talk to you,-at least until th

trellised balustrade was lost in rose-wreaths. We were soon in the rustling

gay for you to take back to London. I cannot leave them alone while they are so fresh, and t

e roses. What a q

charm in flowers which will prevent my becoming wicked! If you had been so kind as to bring your violin,

ring my violin? I never think of anything but

and make it live. I know what you mean about violets,-their perfume is like the tones of your instrument, and

ad one, Miss Benette; but still sweet now that

e can hardly call it sweet. I am grieved I talked of violets, to touch upon any sorrow you m

out violets, or rather that I did, because some day I must tell you the whole story of my trouble. I know not why the violet should remind me more than does the beautiful white

ying: but why is that so sad? We must all die, Mr. A

to teach earth all that is most like heaven, should go before any one had dreamed she could possibly be take

stood before that rose-tree; she broke off a

s not because I was not sorry that

t that was nothing. I never heard such a voice,-but neither had it any power, compared with her heavenly genius and its sway upon the soul. She had written a symphony,-you know what it is to do that! She wrote it in three months, and during the slight leisure of a most laborious student life. I was alarmed at her progress, yet there was something about it that made it see

ir? Oh! she

ied; but no one then coul

uffere

joy could rise to until I beheld her face with

rhaps she had nothing she loved exc

t some one behind her who had been to her so d

thy of a young girl who could write a symphony," said Clara, very calmly, but with her eyes closed among the flowers she was holding in he

me in a rather mystical chat we had held one day, in which he let fall, 'the violin is the violet.' And poor Maria received a silver rose, in memory of Saint Cecilia, to whom he had once compared her, and to whom there was a too true resemblance in her fateful life. The rose was placed in her hair by the person I told you she loved best, just as she was about to

ght and liquid, and yet all-sea

rt can feel. Has he never cease

as too great for any mortal heart; that is his feeling, I believe, for he is still now, and uncomplaining,-ever proud, but only proud about

ot be comforted, I suppose? There are persons

ette. You must suffer with your

say, the comfort is that all those

ere, t

d for by and by. Now that way of talking makes

ut poor Florimond Anasta

de me as we were

say so? Do you mean the great pla

er aspect altered, she seemed convicted of some mistaken con

not deserve to have grown up so well and strong. May I do my duty for it,

what else could be done? It was buried in her virgin grave,-a maiden wor

fore a thunder-storm. I will not hear a word more. You cannot afford to tal

e said quite enough,

ses, instead of my black gown. On the way I will tell you that there is some one, a lady too, so much interested in you that she was going

n, to come and

y I had forgotten all about her, and she returns upon me with a strong sense of my own ingratit

w it,-at least, to this hour she persi

actly the right time? She chalked out my career, at least. I

at generous-too generous almost-as she is, she will not suffer the slightest allusion

ace appeared fading into a mist of green. The delicate leaves framed her as a picture of melancholy that has attired itself in mirth, which mirth but served to fling out the shadow by contrast and betray the source