Volume I Part 22 (1/2)
”But is he to try it, then, Mr Davy?”
”Your iven me leave to ask him, if I see hilanced here atto write to him, at all events, about another subject, or rather upon the same subject”
”Oh, Mr Davy, I will talk to my little boy myself”
”Certainly, madam; I will not anticipate you”
”Charles dear,” said Clo, ”you must have your supper now”
It appeared to me that I had already had it; but I restored my doll to its cradle in silence, and ate unconsciously Fred's presence at the board stihed the whole time; but Millicent was pale and Davy quiet, and he departed as soon as he possibly nificance sweeter than sweetness, brightened his frank adieu forofmy mother redeemed her promise It was directly after breakfast when she had placed herself in the chair at the parlorShebefore until she coement of hers, and then she looked so serious, as I stood before her, that I fully expected so I should not like
”Charles,” she said, ”you are very dear to iven est
I have often wondered what you would be or becohts for you that you must leave me to be educated But if you are to be a row into e should both of us desire,--a first-rate artist I could not wish you to be anything less than first rate, and now you are very backward”
”Ao to London then, mother?” I shook in every limb
”I believe a first-rate musical education for you in London would be beyond my means It is upon this subject your friend Mr Davy is to be so good as to write to Santonio, who can tell us all about Geres can be obtained land But, Charles, you will have to give up a great deal if you go, and learn to do everything for yourself If you are ill, you will have to do without nursing and petting as you would have here; and if you are unhappy, you must not complain away from home Also you must work hard, or you will lose your free self-approval, and be o if I did not know you are h to do your duty by your mother; also, that you are a true boy, and will not take to false persons But it is hard to part with you, my child; and indeed, we need not think of that just yet”
I did though, I am ashamed to say; and I wanted to set off on the next day I knew this to be impossible, and the fact that consoled ue impression that Davy would tuneMy excitement was intense; I could not even cut a caper, for I had to do my lessons, and Clo always behaved about o on forever, and I was by no row any older She was especially stationary on thisfor it but to apply very hard indeed My copy was ravely thereupon, I thought of what Santonio had said about my arm and hand I was not vain,--I have not a tincture of vanity all through me,--but I was very proud, and also most demurely humble
At dinner Millicent talked to me of my prospects; but I pretended not to ad was so painful to me that I dared not irritate it So she ralliedto simulate occupation Dinner over, they all retired to their roo over it as it lay in its case, I fed upon it in spirit; but I did not take it out, I was afraid of any one co in
At last I spreaddown upon it, went to sleep in scarcely conscious possession I did not dreaht to have done so, and it had been better for these unillues; but when I awoke it was late,--that is, late for ement with Miss Benette
I ran all the way; and as I reached -place, it occurred toto Gerlad she would be, and yet a little sorry; for I had an idea she likedinto the passage, I heard strange sounds--singing, but not only singing More and ht, and I dashed upstairs The sounds ceased when I knocked at the door, which Clara caazed in first, before I even noticed her, and beheld in the centre of the room a small polished pianoforte I flew in and up to it, and breathlessly surveyed it
”Miss Benette, where did that coht you were not to have a pianoforte for ever so long”
She caitated,--
”Oh! Master Auchester, I wish you could tell ive that person my heart quite full of thanks I can only believe it cos,--some one rich, whom music has , beautiful thing to coht!”
The tears filled her eyes, and looking at her, I perceived that she had lately wept; the veins of harebell-blue seemed to quiver round the lids
”Oh, Miss Benette! I had a violin sent to ht it was from Mr Davy; but now I feel quite sure it was from that lady”
Clara could scarcely speak,--I had never seen her so overcome; but she presently answered,--
”I believe it was the young lady I hope so, because I should like her to be h her antedin the world She would not like to be thanked, though; so we ought not to grieve that we cannot express our gratitude”
”I should like to know really, though, because it seee she should recollect _me_”