Volume II Part 8 (1/2)
He rolled up his loves I had a pair of Millicent's in arden-house for a rose to put here,” said Franz, running his slight forefinger into his button-hole
We accordingly went in there A good many had preceded us, and rifled the baskets of roses, pinks, and jas over those still left, up ca in the Cerinthias I eagerly gazed, endeavoring, withBut I only beheld, between the pillars, the clear brow and waving robes of er master as he bent so lowly before a maiden raimented in white, and only as he left her; for he entered not within the alcove As he retreated, Maria advanced She was dressed in white, as I have said; but so dazzling was her beauty that all eyes were bent upon her All the chorus-singers were in white; but who looked the least like her?
With the deep azure of our order folded around her breast, and on that breast a single full white rose, with that dark hair bound from the arch of her delicate forehead, she approached and presented us each also with a single rose, exquisite as her own, from the very little basket I had carried to her that Sunday, now quite filled with the feers it contained ”They are so fresh,” said she, ”that they will not die the wholein the whole realm of floas so beautiful, or just then so fresh, as herself!
A very little while now, and our conductor, Zittere of Anastase, but his admirer and sworn ally, ca dispersed, he returned for ourselves,--the gentry of the band As soon as I aspired through the narrow orchestra door, I beheld the saht in front as from the other end at the day of my initiation into those sceneries, or very learound on arland For over the seats reserved for the Chevalier and his party, the loveliest flowers, relieved within rich festoons; and as a keystone to the curtained entrance below the orchestra, the Cecilia picture--frain roses by Maria's hand--showed only less fair than she At once did this floork foreneral audience, and illustrate his exclusiveness by a fair, if fading, sy rather nervous about ether, however near, when they entered, and found just the seats I could have chosen for them Millicent, at the side of the chaesticulated violently at her to take such place
I felt so excited then, seeing them down there,--of all persons those I should have most desired in those very spots,--that I think I should have burst into tears but for a sudden and fresh diversion While I had been watching athered throng, and just as the conductor came to the orchestra steps, at the bottom he arrested himself The first stroke of ten had sounded from our little church, and si on his wand the blue rosette and bunch of oak-leaves, threw open the curtain of the archway under us and ushered into the appropriated space the party for whose arrival we auspiciously waited I said Zittermayer arrested himself,--he waited respectfully until they were seated, and then bowed, but did not advance to salute them further They also bowed, and he mounted the steps
I was enchanted at the decorum which prevailed at that moment; for, as it happened, it was a ated applause on the occasion The perfect stillness also reigned through Cherubini's overture, not one note of which I heard, though I played as well as any so at that party; and being blessed with a long sight, I saell as it was possible to see all that I required to behold
First in the line sat a lady, at once so stately and so young looking, that I could only conjecture she was, as she was, _his_ mother A woman was she like, in the outlines of her beauty, to the Medicis and Colonnas, those queens of historic poesy; unlike in that beauty's aspect which was beneficent as powerful, though I traced no trait of semblance between her and her super-terrestrial son She sat like an elass, one star of diamonds at its ri as she was, she was ever turned slightly towards him, who, placed by her side, almost nestled into the sable satin of her raiment He was also dressed in black, this day, and held in those exquisite hands a tiny pair of gloves, which he noung backwards and forwards in time to the movement of our orchestra, and then let fall upon the floor; when that stately ather the sain with inadvertence, or perhaps to slide into theers
Hardly had I seen and known hinized another close beside him If _he_ were small and sylphid, seated by his majestic mother, how tiny was that delicate satellite of his, as nestled as close to his side as he to hers It was my own, my little Starwood, so happily attired in a dove-colored dress, half frock, half coat, triay in his morsels of hands I had scarcely time to notice him after the first flush ofthat my pet was as happy as he could well be, and that he was quite at ho hair, reat doll exquisitely dressed; and again, nearest the doll and the doll's entlemen, each of whom, as to size, would have made two Seraphaels
They were all very attentive, apparently, except the Chevalier; and though he was still by fits, I kneas not attending, froaze, now in the roof, now out at the s, noncast, shadowy, and anon flinging its own brightness over my soul, like a sunbeath the point in the prograed for, was close at hand, he slid beneath the flowery balustrade, and as noiselessly as in our English ainst the desk until thepossession Then when he entered, still so inadvertent, the applause broke out, gathering, rolling, prolonging itself, and dissolving like thunder in the mountains
I especially enjoyed the fervent shouts of Anastase; his eye as clear as fire, his strict frame relaxed Almost before it was over, and as if to elude further deh he boith courteous calin Then,ice tones, shone out those bea lineaments; the saht the very edge of beauty Fleeting fros, his very heart's flushes, were as the lory
But of his restless and radiant eyes I could not bear the stressful brightness, it diht; whether dazzled or dissolved, I know not And yet,--will it be believed?--affectionate, earnest, and devoted as was the delistened except e; but it appears to nizable in human form as was pure Divinity I encroach upon such a subject no further To feel, to feel exquisitely, is the lot of very many,--it is the charm that lends a superstitious joy to fear; but to appreciate belongs to the few, to the one or two alone here and there,--the blended passion and understanding that constitute, in its essence, worshi+p
I did not wonder half so ht of the audience in the composition How many there are who _perceive_ art as they perceive beauty,--perceive the fair in Nature, the pure in science,--but receive not what these inti the Divine ideal, the soul beyond the sight, the ear!
Here, besides, there were plenty of persons weary with mediocre impressions, and the effect upon theht of green fields after trackless deserts I never, never can have enough,--is _ when that exalted music overbrims my heart; sensation is trebled; the soul sees double; it is as if, brooding on the waste of harmony, the spirit met its shadow, like the swan, and embraced it as itself I do not kno the cohtness face to face; but I never knew anything go ill under his direction The sublimity of the last movement, so sudden yet complete in its conclusion, left the audience in a trance; the spell was not broken for a minute and a half, and then burst out a treht I It was already too late; with the mystical etting the time-stick, which he held in his hand still, and which he carried with hih the archway As soon as it was really felt he had departed, a great cry for him was set up,--all in vain; and a deputation from the orchestra was instructed to depart and persuade his were done in Germany in those days! Anastase was at the head of this select few, but returned together with the, as they asserted, to be found Anastase announced this fact, in his rare German, to the iht on the benches, to the end that they ht make more clatter with their feet than on the firroan, and some stray hisses sounded like the erection of a rattlesnake or two; but upon second thoughts the people seemed to think they should be h what they meant to do with hiar did any horant soul My dear Millicent and her spouse waited patiently, though they looked about therew thin; and then, as the stately party underneath h the same curtain that had closed over Seraphael, I darted doards past the barrier and cli forms to my sister and brother Great was my satisfaction to stand there and chatter with theested our final departure, and I recollected to have left my fiddle in the orchestra, not even sheltered by its cradle, but where every dust could insult its face
”Stay here,” I begged the five minutes”
”Fly, my dear boy,” cried Davy, ”and ait until you return, however long you stay”
I did not _mean_ to stay more than five minutes, nor should I have delayed, but for my next adventure When I came to my door, which I reached in breathless haste, lo! it was fastened within, or at least would not be pulled open I was cross, for I was in a hurry, and very curious too; so I set down iven it a good kick, al through that darkness, ”Only wait one little moment, and don't knock me down, please!” I knew that voice, and stood stoned with delight to the spot, while the bolt slid softly back in some velvet touch, and the door was opened
”Oh, sir!” I cried, as I saw the Chevalier, looking at that instant ht at its prettyyour pardon I did not know you were here”
”I did not suppose so,” he answered, laughing brightly ”I came here because I knew the way, and because I wanted to be out of the way It is I who ought to beg _thy_ pardon, Carlo into my room,--I shall always like to think you came But if I had only known you were here, I would not have interrupted you”
”And I, had I known thou wouldst come, should not have bolted thy door But I was afraid of Anastase, Carlomein”
”Afraid of Anastase, sir,--of _Anastase_?” I could find no other words
”Yes, I am of Anastase even a little afraid”
”Oh, sir! don't you like him?” I exclaimed; for I remembered Maria's secret
”My child,” said the Chevalier, ”he is as near an angel as artist can be,--aspirit; but yet I tell thee, I fear before him He is so still, severe, and perfect”