Volume I Part 27 (1/2)

”Sir, he has eaten it all, but he is so very sleepy; hter at h I was really very ain Aronach bent uponbeard: ”Dost thou know to refrain thyself, as well as thou knowest to rebuke thine elders?” But I could plainly see he was not angry, for he arose and tapped upon the ceiling with a stout oak staff that he fished froined closet Then the little one ca behind his chair, as he ave hiraced Jove in full council Santonio requested very kindly that I too o to bed; and in a few minutes I found myself in that little cave of my own of which he had h one of the very doors I had noticed when the glimmer showed me the staircase, and it entirely answered my expectations, in so far as it was very diland, or any of our roolass, and a press large enough to contain a bride's trousseau complete There was also a recess which see, but which, on exaht of my candle, I found to contain the bed in a box of which my mother had forewarned me I could no more have slept in it than if it had been a coffin, and for the first time I fully appreciated her provision for my comfort in this particular My boxes were all there, and I uncorded them and drew forth my keys My excellent sister Clo had packed in one trunk the bed and bedding, and one set of night-clothes, also a variety of toilet necessaries in holland bags It was quite an affair to lift out the pieces; they were fitted into each other so beautifully that it was natural to iain None but an experienced feminine hand could have accomplished such a feat, and very carefully had I been inducted into the puzzleether I had just unfolded the tight white h, when Santonio knocked at the door to bid ht and farewell; and as he came in he assisted me in the accomplishment of my plans with that assiduous deftness which pre-euishes the instrumental artist He most kindly offered to see o withhich I stretchedwith my rapid ablutions, beneathafter home, nor the least experience theof huurative exile; but I felt extrerand, and self-reliant, especially satisfied, in spite of norance, that by some means or other this Aronach would make a man of me, and not a trifler I was just asleep when I heard a hand on the lock, and that no dreaht!” I sprang up and opened the door

”It is only ht with me, and it is very safe, as you see; but still, if you wish it, I will try to sleep in the dark I have never liked to do so, because it excitesof exciteht-lamp, thou mayest keep thine eyes open with it, and thank hiet back to bed! and don't coht-smocks here”

I heard him boltpleased me, but on the contrary cost me many a cold sweat until I beca out such variations frolish style as had escaped me on my first acquaintance with my quarters; then reverted to Aronach's dark hint about the person who, like me, was excited by the darkness; and at last recollected my contemporaries, and speculated upon their present circumstantials Most softly did that poor little soul present himself to mine as he played with my buttons, and I secretly determined to become his protector and ally As for the iht; perhaps because he was, though repugnant to ant, and I was neither

FOOTNOTE:

[13] It is generally accepted that Aronach is a portrait of Zelter, the friend of Goethe and teacher of Mendelssohn, as forAkademie at Berlin He was the first who inspired Mendelssohn with his love for John Sebastian Bach's music

CHAPTER XXVI

I aith sonorous cries, and sounds of bells, and songs of sellers, and the di of wheels on a frosty soil Hard and white the day-dews stood upon the s; the sky was clear as light itself, andas into the arms of freedom It occurred to me that I was perhaps late, and I dressed fast About half-way to the end, I heard the violins begin, both of theeously contradicted each other in different directions, and I could keep by my ear to neither

I made the utmost haste, but, as in most cases, it was least speed I pulled off a button, and then a shoestring caain And when at length equipped, I recalled the incarceration of the previous night, and wondered how long I should stay there; but a sudden impulse sent me to the door, and immediately it yielded to ht, ”and has not awakened ood, to be sure! Not at all what I expected” I sallied forth to the landing; it was like a room itself, but still dark,--dark for day-tih the crack beneath every door I listened at each first, not knowing at the instant which hich; but the violins asserted themselves, and I chose one to unlock on my own responsibility I had an-rooned full, and freshened up the old tints till they gleamed no more dusky, but rich

The pictures and wreaths of other years gave welcoic child especially; nor less the harpsichord unopened, quiet, while those sounds of younger violins broke through and through my fancy, and made my heart swell up till I could have fainted with e sense was of that silent organ lost in the shady roof; the sun playing upon those colu to hide its wealth of ”unheard , who can surely never have _heard_ them!

The chamber had been brushed and swept, but still the fine dust flew, and caught the sunshi+ne on its eddies like another shade of light

There was no one in the room, and, my first flush over, I felt alone and idle The table was spread for breakfast, as I discovered, last of all; and I question whether such coffee as stood upon the stove so cosily could be surpassed even in Arabia It was so perfect that it stood the test of sugarlessness, which I preferred, if possible

Standing to eat and drink in all haste, a speculation stung me,--where was my violin? It had not even slept with me; I had missed it in my room,--that baby of mine, that doll, that ladykin! I looked everywhere,--at least everywhere I could; the closet-door I did not try, justly supposing that it was not my place to do so; and at last I concluded to attack my fellow-pupils

I found my small friend's door very easily, and turned the key to admit myself The room, to my amazement, was precisely like my own, even to that bed in the recess; and the inmate was not alarmed, for he evidently expectedup his lips to ave it him to keep till you were ready

Butyou andyou yet?”

”No, and he does not call it 'flog;' but he did tie Marc's hands together one day, and he said it was the sa”

”A very mild type, I think But who is Marc?”

”Marc Iskar; you saw hi”

”So much the better for you And what is your little name?”

”I am Starwood Burney;[14] but I should like you to call me Star, as my papa does”