A Woman-Hater

l, in Gounod's "Faust," and upon the songs t

ght, and sat, half dressed, fatigue

r had pricked her. She came down dressed, to listen at one of the upper entrances, to fill herself

take on me to say that the individual Herr who executed Doctor Faustus at Homburg that night had everything to learn, except what he had to unlearn. His person was obese; his delivery of the words was mouthing, chewing, and gurgling; and he uttered the notes in tune, but without point, pathos, or passion; a steady lay-clerk from York or Durham Cathedral would have done a little better, because he would have b

actress than Patti, and this Fraulein was not half as good: she put on the painful grin of a prize-fighte

voice of palsy, and is not, nor ever was, nor ever will be, the voice of passion. Bless your heart, passion is a manly thing, a wom

shmead. "I feel all out of tune. I shall never be able. And

of them, if they app

ritable souls, and the very audie

dience; and this is one. Remember they have all seen Patti i

quickness. "Mr. Ashmead, have you kept you

and a great

n announced by

urse, I have nu

h, what have you been doing

aid Ashmead, stoutly; "o

egular business?" inqui

, appreciating our difficulty, had, with rare kindness, come to our aid for this one night: we felt sure a Humbug audience-what am I saying?-a Homburg audience would appreciate this, and make due allowance for a performance unde

le moan. She had really a soul above these artifices. "So, then

st night you must have t

of breath. A singer can sing, or she can not sing, and t

s just what half the singers can't do-a

I'm terrified. I think it is stage-fright," and s

rn. "No, sir! If the theater, and the lights, and the people, the mind of Goethe, and the music of G

down the house had she spoken it in a play without a note of music; and Ashmead drew back

r cue, she made a stately rush, and so, being in full swing before she cleared the wing, she swept into the center of the sta

ognized at Homburg. But there was that indescribable flutter which marks a good impression and keen expectation suddenly aroused. She was beautiful on the stage for one

he tones were so full and flexible, the expression so easy yet exact, that the judges saw there was no effort, and suspected something big might be yet in sto

said, "All is well, my friend, so far. They are sitting in judgment

have been announced. Prejudice is a surer

n the end," said the Klosking fir

e my barometer; a young lady in the stalls. Oh, such a beautiful creature, with black hair and eyes! She applauds me fearlessly. Her glorious eye

in but Ned Severne, and glided i

ear her; he saw it, and felt

T.'?" said

said he,

ick friend,

him. He was hipped; had lost all his money at rouge et noir. So I lent him

Are you going back to h

I have made sa

eaned out of three hundred pounds t

good?" he

but one; and

. Who i

A gentleman in

istop

ney dropping from the comb. And then she is so modest, so dignified, and so beautiful. She is fair as a lily; and such a queen-like brow, and deep, gray eyes, full of sadness and soul. I'm afraid she is not happy. Once o

you are not a man," s

ed Zoe, and blushe

Mr. Chatterbo

t sung many bars before he revolted. "Listen to what?" said he; "

mean," said she. "To be Marguerite, one must be great, and sweet, and tender; yes, and far more lovely than eve

ite, for you could fire a man's heart so

Yet she defended herself-in words, "Hush!" said she. "That is

the stalls of an opera. Which of the two weighed mos

he declaration of the evil s

that is over, thank goodness:

e her pleasure with him. To her amazement the man seemed transformed: a dark cloud had come over his sunny countenance. He sat, pale, and seemed to star

on a heaven-k

rchief hastily to his nose, and wriggled his way out, with a rush and a crawl, strangely com

movement to rise too, and watch, or even follow him; but, when he got to the side, he looked back to her, and made her a signal that his nose

r into the melody; the orchestra, taken by surprise, fought feebly for the old ripple; but the Klosking, resolute by nature, was now mighty as Neptune, and would have her big waves. The momentary struggle, in which she was loyally seconded by the conductor, evoked her grand powers. Catgut had to yield to brains, and the whole orchestra, composed, after all, of good musicians, soon caught the divine afflatus, and the little theater seemed on fire with music; the air, sung with a

e heard that, and it gave her a thrill; and Zoe Vizard, being out of England, and, therefore, brave as a lioness, stood boldly up at her full height, and, taking her bouquet in her right hand, carried it swiftly to her left ear, and so flung it, with a free back-handed sweep, more Oriental than English

ttle, in mutual congratulation; for at such rare moments (except in Anglo-Saxony) instinct seem

ington Vizard sat rapt in attention, and nev

ees sought an introduction to the

him, and meet the Grand Duke of Hess

Ashmead, and very heartily too; for nature was exh

of Song, with triumph flushed, looked rather blue at that. "My friend," said she, in

a little testily. "Well, never mind;" and he muttered to himself

rank one spoonful. The remainder, co-operating with triumph and claret, kept Ashmead in a great flow of spirits. He traced her a brilliant career. To be photographed tomorrow morning as Siebel, and

aid she, and smiled la

er, and found she was taking

id he, "what

me. He was not there