Volume II Part 6 (1/2)
As first awoke the strange, sio_, the fetterless chains of ice seemed to close around my heart The movement had no blandness in its sole of the haridity actual, as well as ideal, passed over my pores and hushedchords, the sustaining calm was illustrated, 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 sunbeahtest possible retardation at its close brought us to the refrain of the siain by a rush of violoncello notes, rapid and low, like soh the frozen sweetness Then spread wide the subject as plains upon plains of _water-land_, though the tiradually increased Amplifications of the same harmonies introduced a fresh accession of violoncelli, and oboi contrasted artfully in syncopation, till at length the strides of the _accelerando_ gave a glittering precipitation to the entrance of the second and longest movement
Then Anastase turned upon me, and with the first bar we fell into a tumultuous _presto_ Far beyond all power to analyze as it was just then, the complete idea embraced me as instantaneously as had the picturesque chilliness 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 that vividly enunciated ideal, whose expression pertains to the one will alone in any age,--the ideal that, binding together in suggestive iery every for beyond thee-like, but fast-bound _motivo_--only like those tossed ice-waves, dead still in their heaped-up crests--were certain swelling _crescendos_ of a second subject, so unutterably, if vaguely, sweet that the souls of all deep blue Alp-flowers, the clarity of all high blue skies, had surely passed into theitimate to describe what so speaks for itself as music; yet there are assuredly effects produced by music which may be treated of to the satisfaction of the initiated
It was not until the very sub of Anastase was recalled tonotes of the wild horns, and interhs of the milder wood, swept froi_, and above them all I heard his tone, keen but solvent, as his bow sees with fire; and I felt as if soers to kindle hed in his face with sheer pleasure; but he htest 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 hiiatura_, which I did not know he had heard, that evil one cay, instead of setting up his crest, as usual I was very thankful at last when the room was cleared, as it was infernally hot, and I had made up ood one; for I had not used it before this night
When no one was left except he and I, I ventured to ask hi anywhere for hiather up all the parts and lay the to a wooden box behind the platfor to look over it with ht in, he tookit round and round, deet this?” I told hiined to be its history He looked rather astonished, but an to play to me I do not suppose another ever played like him; I may, perhaps, myself a very little, but I never heard anybody else The peculiar strength of his tone I believe never to have been surpassed; the firmness of his _cantabile_ never equalled; his expression in no case approached Santonio's playing dwindled in , perforethersecurity 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 hi is than Santonio's! I thought his wonderful until I heard yours” But with iven hi downmyself farword to use It is full, because I have studied toof a leader, which aries
Neither does Santonio, who is also a leader, but a finer player than I,--finer in the sense of delicacy, experience, finish Now go and eat your supper, Auchester”
”Sir, I don't want any supper”
”But I do, and I cannot have you here”
I knew heto practise,--it was always his supper, I found; but he had becoround to him, really, yet So I retired, and slipped into the refectory, where Franz was keeping a seat for o out the next Sunday, and the next it rained,--we all stayed in On the following Wednesday would come our concert, and by this time I knew that the Chevalier would be accoine that we covered for theether to me one of my romance days; and, as such, I partook in the spirit of festivity that stirred abroad The day before was even soarden-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 ot command of the whole troop,--I am sure I did not mean to put ather oak-branches and lireens, and then sat down to weave garlands for the arches a seen them fairly at work, I went forth myself, and found Maria Cerinthia at hoe in search of roses and myrtles Josephine went too, and we all three returned laden froarden of a sincere patroness down in the valley beneath the hill, of e had asked such al the slope leisurely,a coach at the porter's door,--the door where letters and rand door of the school, which all day stood open for the benefit of bustling Cecilians I thought nothing of this coach, however, as one often ht have seen one there; but while Maria took back Josephine, I obtained possession of all the flohich she had placed in arden-house 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 hi 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 roo accounts I was not aware he even knew my name; but by it he called upon me ”Sir,” I said, ”what do you want?” as I did not desire to halt, for fear of crushi+ng up my sweet fresh roses He had risen, and was in the dooraiting, with true German deliberation, until I was quite recovered from my breathlessness; and then he did not answer, but tookthe rooe
Shall I ever forget it? For, gasping still, though I had thrown all ht, old-fashi+oned, distinct, yet dreaether upon the chairs behind the door You will not expect me to say how I felt when I found they were my own sister Millicent, my own Lenhart Davy, and that they did not ,--put out e color whichto h 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 s to her silk handkerchief yet, I cried, and she cried too; but ere both quiet enough about it,--she I only kneas crying by her cheek pressing wet against mine After a few an distinctly to perceive the strangeness of our position
Millicent, as I exarown more a woman than I remembered; but that may have pertained to her dress, so different from the style hich I associated her,--the white ribbons and plain caps under the quaint straw bonnet, and the black-silk spencer
Now, she wore ato her delicate fancy hat; this gave to her oval countenance a blushful clearness that made her look lovely in my eyes And when I did speak, what do you think I said? ”Oh, Millicent, how odd it is!
Oh, Mr Davy, how odd you look!”
”Now, Charles,” said he, in answer,--and how the English accents thrilled the tears intoso tall and being so self-possessed You are above my shoulder, and you have lost all your impudence”
”No, Mr Davy, I haven't--kisson there till curiosity swelled unconquerable
”Oh, Mr Davy, how extraordinary it is of you to co me! And mother never said the least word about it Oh, Millicent, how did you get her to let you come? And, oh,” suddenly it struck e you should come with Mr
Davy! Is anybody ill? No, you would have told me directly, and you would not be dressed so”
Millicent looked up at Davy with an unwonted expression, a new light in her eyes, that had ever slept in shade; and he laughed again
”No, nobody is ill, and she would _not_ be dressed so if I had not given her that bonnet, for which she scoldedme,--for it came from Paris”
”Oh!” I exclaiht I ran to Millicent, and whispered into that same bonnet, ”Oh, Millicent! are you married to Mr Davy?”
She pulled off one of her pale-colored gloves and showed e I felt,--hot and cold; glad and sorry; excited, and yet staid! I flew to lad!”
”I thought you would be, Charles If I had anticipated any objection on your part, I should have written to you first!”
”Oh, Mr Davy!” I cried, laughing, ”but why did they not write and tell me?”