第1章

\"THEGoldenStar，\"Homburg，wasahumblehotel，notusedbygaygamblers，butbymodesttravelers。

Attwoo\'clock，onefinedayinJune，thereweretwostrangersinthe_sallea\'manger，_seatedatsmalltablesalongwayapart，andwhollyabsorbedintheirownbusiness。

Onewasaladyabouttwenty-fouryearsold，who，inthepresentreposeofherfeatures，lookedcomely，sedate，andwomanly，butnottheremarkablepersonshereallywas。Herforeheadhighandwhite，butalittlebroaderthansculptorsaffect；herlonghair，coiledtight，inagreatmanysmoothsnakes，uponhersnowynape，wasalmostflaxen，yethereyebrowsandlonglashesnotpalebutareddishbrown；hergrayeyeslargeandprofound；hermouthratherlarge，beautifullyshaped，amiable，andexpressive，butfullofresolution；herchinalittlebroad；herneckandhandsadmirablywhiteandpolished。ShewasanAnglo-Dane——herfatherEnglish。

Ifyouaskmewhatshewasdoing，why——hunting；andhadbeen，forsomedays，inalltheinnsofHomburg。Shehadthevisitors\'book，andwasgoingthroughthenamesofthewholeyear，andstudyingeachtoseewhetheritlookedrealorassumed。Interspersedwereflippantcomments，andversesadaptedtodrawasmileofamusementorcontempt；butthishunterpassedthemalloverasnullities:thesteadyposeofherhead，theglintofherdeepeye，andthesetofherfinelipsshowedasoulnottobedivertedfromitsobject。

Thetraveleratherbackhadamapofthedistrictandblanktelegrams，oneofwhichhefilledineverynowandthen，andscribbledahastylettertothesameaddress。Hewasasharp-facedmiddle-agedmanofbusiness；JosephAshmead，operaticandtheatricalagent——athiswits\'

end；afemalesingerattheHomburgOperahadfallenreallyill；hewascommissionedtoreplaceher，andhadonlythirtyhourstodoitin。Sohewashuntingasinger。Whattheladywashuntingcanneverbeknown，unlesssheshouldchoosetorevealit。

Karl，thewaiter，feltboundtorousetheseabstractedguests，andstimulatetheirappetites。Heaffected，therefore，tolookonthemaspeoplewhohadnotyetbreakfasted，andtrippeduptoMr。Ashmeadwithabilloffare，ratherscanty。

ThebusiestEnglishmancaneat，andAshmeadhadnoobjectiontosnatchamouthful；hegavehisorderinGermanwithanEnglishaccent。Butthelady，whenappealedto，saidsoftly，inpureGerman，\"Iwillwaitforthe_table-d\'hote。\"_

\"The_table-d\'hote!_Itwantsfourhourstothat。\"

TheladylookedKarlfullintheface，andsaid，slowly，andverydistinctly，\"Then，I——will——wait——four——hours。\"

Thesesimplewords，articulatedfirmly，andinacontraltovoiceofsingularvolumeandsweetness，sentKarlskipping；buttheireffectonMr。Ashmeadwasmoreremarkable。Hestartedupfromhischairwithanexclamation，andbenthiseyeseagerlyonthemelodiousspeaker。Hecouldonlyseeherbackhairandherfigure；but，apparently，thisquick-earedgentlemanhadalsoquickeyes，forhesaidaloud，inEnglish，\"Herhair，too——itmustbe；\"andhecamehurriedlytowardher。Shecaughtawordortwo，andturnedandsawhim。\"Ah!\"saidshe，androse；butthepointsofherfingersstillrestedonthebook。

\"Itis!\"criedAshmead。\"Itis!\"

\"Yes，Mr。Ashmead，\"saidthelady，coloringalittle，butinpureEnglish，andwithacomposurenoteasilydisturbed；\"itisInaKlosking。\"

\"Whatapleasure，\"criedAshmead；andwhatasurprise!Ah，madam，Ineverhopedtoseeyouagain。WhenIheardyouhadlefttheMunichOperasosudden，Isaid，\'Theregoesonemorebrightstarquenchedforever。\'Andyoutodesertus——you，therisingestsingerinGermany!\"

\"Mr。Ashmead!\"

\"Youcan\'tdenyit。Youknowyouwere。\"

Thelady，thusmadeherownjudge，seemedtoreflectamoment，andsaid，\"Iwasawell-groundedmusician，thankstomyparents；Iwasaveryhard-workingsinger；andIhadtheadvantageofbeingsupported，inmyearlycareer，byagentlemanofjudgmentandspirit，whowasamanageratfirst，andbroughtmeforward，afterwardapopularagent，andtalkedmanagersintoagoodopinionofme。\"

\"Ah，madam，\"saidAshmead，tenderly，\"itisagreatpleasuretohearthisfromyou，andspokenwiththatmellowvoicewhichwouldcharmarattlesnake；butwhatwouldmyzealanddevotionhaveavailedifyouhadnotbeenabornsinger?\"

\"Why——yes，\"saidIna，thoughtfully；\"Iwasasinger。\"Butsheseemedtosaythisnotasathingtobeproudof，butonlybecauseithappenedtobetrue；and，indeed，itwasapeculiarityofthiswomanthatsheappearednearlyalwaystothink——ifbutforhalfamoment——beforeshespoke，andtosaythings，whetheraboutherselforothers，onlybecausetheywerethetruth。Thereaderwhoshallcondescendtobearthisinmindwillpossesssomelittleclewtothecolorandeffectofherwordsasspoken。Often，wheretheyseemsimpleandcommonplace——onpaper，theywereweightybytheirextraordinaryairoftruthfulnessaswellasbythedeepmusicofhermellow，bell-likevoice。

\"Oh，youdoadmitthat，\"saidMr。Ashmead，withachuckle；\"thenwhyjumpofftheladdersonearthetop?Oh，ofcourseIknow——theoldstory——butyoumightgivetwenty-twohourstolove，andstillspareacoupletomusic。\"

\"Thatseemsareasonabledivision，\"saidIna，naively。\"But\"

(apologetically)\"hewasjealous。\"

\"Jealous!——moreshameforhim。I\'msurenoladyinpubliclifewasevermorediscreet。\"

\"No，no；hewasonlyjealousofthepublic。\"

\"Andwhathadthepoorpublicdone?\"

\"Absorbedme，hesaid。\"

\"Why，hecouldtakeyoutotheopera，andtakeyouhomefromtheopera，and，duringtheopera，hecouldmakeoneofthepublic，andapplaudyouasloudasthebest。\"

\"Yes，butrehearsals!——and——embracingthetenor。\"

\"Well，butonlyonthestage?\"

\"Oh，Mr。Ashmead，whereelsedoesoneembracethetenor?\"

\"Andwasthatagrievance?Why，I\'dembracefiftytenors——ifIwaspaidproportionable。\"

\"Yes；buthesaidIembracedonepoorstick，withafervor——an_abandon_——Well，IdaresayIdid；for，iftheyhadputagate-postinthemiddleofthestage，anditwasinmyparttoembracethething，I

shouldhavedoneithonestly，forloveofmyart，andnotofapost。ThenexttimeIhadtoembracethepoorstickitwasallIcoulddonottopinchhimsavagely。\"

\"Andturnhimtoacounter-tenor——makehimsqueak。\"

InaKloskingsmiledforthefirsttime。Ashmead，too，chuckledathisownwit，butturnedsuddenlygravethenextmoment，andmoralized。Hepronounceditdesirable，fortheinterestsofmankind，thatagreatandrisingsingershouldnotloveoutofthebusiness；outsiderswerewrong-headedandabsurd，anddidnotunderstandthetrueartist。However，havingdiscoursedforsometimeinthisstrain，hebegantofearitmightbeunpalatabletoher；sohestoppedabruptly，andsaid，\"Butthere——whatisdoneisdone。Wemustmakethebestofit；andyoumustn\'tthinkI

meanttorun_him_down。Helovesyou，inhisway。Hemustbeanoblefellow，orhenevercouldhavewonsuchaheartasyours。Hewon\'tbejealousofanoldfellowlikeme，thoughIloveyou，too，inmyhumdrumway，andalwaysdid。Youmustdomethehonortopresentmetohimatonce。\"

Inastaredathim，butsaidnothing。

\"Oh，\"continuedAshmead，\"Ishallbebusytillevening；butIwillaskhimandyoutodinewithmeattheKursaal，andthenadjourntotheRoyalBox。Youareaqueenofsong，andthatiswhereyouandheshallsit，andnowhereelse。\"

InaKloskingwaschangingcolorallthistime，andcastagratefulbuttroubledlookonhim。\"Mykind，oldfaithfulfriend!\"saidshe，thenshookherhead。\"No，wearenottodinewithyou；norsittogetherattheopera，inHomburg。\"

Ashmeadlookedalittlechagrined。\"Sobeit，\"hesaiddryly。\"Butatleastintroducemetohim。I\'lltryandovercomehisprejudices。\"

\"Itisnoteveninmypowertodothat。\"

\"Oh，Isee。I\'mnotgoodenoughforhim，\"saidAshmead，bitterly。

\"Youdoyourselfinjustice，andhimtoo，\"saidIna，courteously。

\"Well，then?\"

\"Myfriend，\"saidshe，deprecatingly，\"heisnothere。\"

\"Nothere?Thatisodd。Well，then，youwillbedulltillhecomesback。

Comewithouthim；atallevents，totheopera。\"

Sheturnedhertorturedeyesaway。\"Ihavenottheheart。\"

ThismadeAshmeadlookathermoreattentively。\"Why，whatisthematter?\"saidhe。\"Youareintrouble。Ideclareyouaretrembling，andyoureyesarefilling。Mypoorlady——inHeaven\'sname，whatisthematter?\"

\"Hush!\"saidIna；\"notsoloud。\"Thenshelookedhiminthefacealittlewhile，blushed，hesitated，faltered，andatlastlaidonewhitehanduponherbosom，thatwasbeginningtoheave，andsaid，withpatientdignity，\"Myoldfriend——I——am——deserted。\"

Ashmeadlookedatherwithamazementandincredulity。\"Deserted!\"saidhe，faintly。\"You——deserted!!!\"

\"Yes，\"saidshe，\"deserted；butperhapsnotforever。\"Hernobleeyesfilledtothebrim，andtwotearsstoodreadytorunover。

\"Why，themanmustbeanidiot!\"shoutedAshmead。

\"Hush!notsoloud。Thatwaiterislistening:letmecometoyourtable。\"

Shecameandsatdownathistable，andhesatoppositeher。Theylookedateachother。Hewaitedforhertospeak。Withallherfortitude，hervoicefaltered，undertheeyeofsympathy。\"Youaremyoldfriend，\"shesaid。\"I\'lltryandtellyouall。\"Butshecouldnotallinamoment，andthetwotearstrickledoverandrandownhercheeks；Ashmeadsawthem，andburstout，\"Thevillain!——thevillain!\"

\"No，no，\"saidshe，\"donotcallhimthat。Icouldnotbearit。Believeme，heisnovillain。\"Thenshedriedhereyes，andsaid，resolutely，\"IfIamtotellyou，youmustnotapplyharshwordstohim。Theywouldclosemymouthatonce，andclosemyheart。\"

\"Iwon\'tsayaword，\"saidAshmead，submissively；\"sotellmeall。\"

Inareflectedamoment，andthentoldhertale。Dealingnowwithlongersentences，shebetrayedherforeignhalf。

\"Beingalonesolong，\"saidshe，\"hasmademereflectmorethaninallmylifebefore，andInowunderstandmanythingsthat，atthetime，Icouldnot。HetowhomIhavegivenmylove，andresignedtheartinwhichIwasadvancing——withyourassistance——is，bynature，impetuousandinconstant。

Hewasbornso，andItheopposite。Hisloveformewastooviolenttolastforeverinanyman，anditsooncooledinhim，becauseheisinconstantbynature。Hewasjealousofthepublic:hemusthaveallmyheart，andallmytime，andsoheworehisownpassionout。Thenhisgreatrestlessness，havingnownochain，becametoostrongforourhappiness。Hepinedforchange，assomewandererspineforafixedhome。

Isitnotstrange?I，achildofthetheater，amatheartdomestic。He，agentlemanandascholar，born，bred，andfittedtoadornthebestsociety，isbynatureaBohemian。

\"Oneword:isthereanotherwoman?\"

\"No，notthatIknowof；Heavenforbid!\"saidIna。\"Butthereissomethingverydreadful:thereisgambling。Hehasapassionforit，andIfearIweariedhimbymyremonstrances。Hedraggedmeaboutfromonegambling-placetoanother，andIsawthatifIresistedhewouldgowithoutme。Helostafortunewhileweweretogether，andIdoreallybelieveheisruined，poordear。\"

Ashmeadsuppressedallsignsofill-temper，andasked，grimly，\"Didhequarrelwithyou，then?\"

\"Oh，no；heneversaidanunkindwordtome；andIwasnotalwayssoforbearing，forIpassedmonthsoftorment。Isawthataffection，whichwasmyall，glidinggraduallyawayfromme；andthetorturedwillcryout。Iamnotanungovernedwoman，butsometimestheagonywasintolerable，andIcomplained。Well，thatagony，Ilongforitback；fornowIamdesolate。\"

\"Poorsoul!Howcouldamanhavethehearttoleaveyou?howcouldhehavetheface?\"

\"Oh，hedidnotdoitshamelessly。Heleftmeforaweek，tovisitfriendsinEngland。ButhewrotetomefromLondon。HehadleftmeatBerlin。Hesaidthathedidnotliketotellmebeforeparting，butI

mustnotexpecttoseehimforsixweeks；andhedesiredmetogotomymotherinDenmark。Hewouldsendhisnextlettertomethere。Ah!heknewIshouldneedmymotherwhenhissecondlettercame。Hehadplanneditall，thattheblowmightnotkillme。Hewrotetotellmehewasaruinedman，andhewastooproudtoletmesupporthim:hebeggedmypardonforhislove，forhisdesertion，foreverhavingcrossedmybrilliantpathlikeadarkcloud。Hepraisedme，hethankedme，heblessedme；butheleftme。Itwasabeautifulletter，butitwasthedeath-warrantofmyheart。Iwasabandoned。\"

Ashmeadstartedupandwalkedverybriskly，withagreatappearanceofbusinessrequiringvastdispatch，totheotherendofthe_salle；_andthere，beingoutofIna\'shearing，hespokehismindtoacandlestickwiththreebranches。\"D——nhim!Heartless，sentimentalscoundrel!D——nhim!D——nhim!\"

Havingrelievedhismindwiththispiousejaculation，hereturnedtoInaatareasonablepaceandmuchrelieved，andwasnowenabledtosay，cheerfully，\"Letustakeabusinessviewofit。Heisgone——goneofhisownaccord。Givehimyourblessing——Ihavegivenhimmine——andforgethim。\"

\"Forgethim!NeverwhileIlive。Isthatyouradvice?Oh，Mr。Ashmead!

AndthemomentIsawyourfriendlyface，Isaidtomyself，\'Iamnolongeralone:hereisonethatwillhelpme。\'\"

\"AndsoIwill，youmaybesureofthat，\"saidAshmead，eagerly。\"Whatisthebusiness?\"

\"Thebusinessistofindhim。Thatisthefirstthing。\"

\"ButheisinEngland。\"

\"Oh，no；thatwaseightmonthsago。Hecouldnotstayeightmonthsinanycountry；besides，therearenogambling-housesthere。\"

\"AndhaveyoubeeneightmonthssearchingEuropeforthismadman?\"

\"No。Atfirstprideandangerwerestrong，andIsaid，\'HereIstaytillhecomesbacktomeandtohissenses。\'\"

\"Brava!\"

\"Yes；butmonthaftermonthwentby，carryingawaymyprideandmyanger，andleavingmyaffectionundiminished。AtlastIcouldbearitnolonger；

so，ashewouldnotcometohissenses——\"

\"Youtookleaveofyours，andcameoutonawild-goosechase，\"saidAshmead，buttooregretfullytoaffronther。

\"It_was，\"_saidIna；\"Ifeelit。Butitisnotone_now，_becauseIhave_you_toassistmewithyourexperienceandability。Youwillfindhimforme，somehoworother。Iknowyouwill。\"

Letawomanhaveeversolittleguile，shemusthavetact，ifsheisatruewoman。Now，tact，ifitsetymologyistobetrusted，impliesafinesenseandpoweroftouch；so，invirtueofhersex，shepatsahorsebeforesherideshim，andamanbeforeshedriveshim。There，ladies，thereisanindictmentintwocounts；traverseeitherofthemifyoucan。

JosephAshmead，thusdelicatelybuteffectuallymanipulated，swelledwithgratifiedvanityandsaid，\"Youarequiteright；youcan\'tdothissortofthingyourself；youwantanagent。\"

\"OfcourseIdo。\"

\"Well，youhavegotone。Nowletmesee——fiftytooneheisnotatHomburgatall。Ifheis，hemostlikelystaysatFrankfort。Heisaswell，ishenot?\"

\"Swell!\"saidtheAnglo-Dane，puzzled。\"NotthatIamawareof。\"Shewasstrictlyonherguardagainstvituperationofherbelovedscamp。

\"Pooh，pooh!\"saidAshmead；\"ofcourseheis，andnotthesorttolodgeinHomburg。\"

\"Thenbeholdmyincompetence!\"saidIna。

\"But_the_placetolookforhimisthegambling-saloon。Beenthere?\"

\"Oh，no。\"

\"Thenyoumust。\"

\"What!Me!Alone?\"

\"No；withyouragent。\"

\"Oh，myfriend；Isaidyouwouldfindhim。\"

\"Whatawoman!ShewillhaveitheisinHomburg。Andsupposewedofindhim，andyoushouldnotbewelcome?\"

\"Ishallnotbeunwelcome。_Ishallbeachange。\"_

\"ShallItellyouhowtodrawhimtoHomburg，whereverheis?\"saidAshmead，verydemurely。

\"Yes，tellmethat。\"

\"Anddo_me_agoodturnintothebargain。\"

\"Isitpossible?CanIbesofortunate?\"

\"Yes；and_asyousay，_it_is_asliceoflucktobeabletokilltwobirdswithonestone。Why，consider——thewaytorecoveramanisnottorunafterhim，buttomakehimruntoyou。Itislikecatchingmoths；youdon\'trunoutintothegardenafterthem；youlightthecandleandopenthewindow，and_they_dotherest——ashewill。\"

\"Yes，yes；butwhatamItodofor_you?\"_askedIna，gettingalittleuneasyandsuspicious。

\"What!didn\'tItellyou?\"saidAshmead，withcooleffrontery。\"Why，onlytosingformeinthislittleopera，thatisall。\"Andheputhishandsinhispockets，andawaitedthunder-claps。

\"Oh，thatisall，isit?\"saidIna，pantingalittle，andturningtwogreat，reproachfuleyesonhim。

\"Thatisall，\"saidhe，stoutly。\"Why，whatattractedhimatfirst?

Wasn\'tityoursinging，theadmirationofthepublic，thebouquetsandbravas?Whatcaughtthemothoncewillcatchitagain\'moping\'won\'t。Andsurelyyouwillnotrefusetodrawhim，merelybecauseyoucanpullmeoutofafixintothebargain。Lookhere，Ihaveundertakentofindasingerbyto-morrownight；andwhatchanceisthereofmygettingevenathird-rateone?Why，theveryhourIhavespentsoagreeably，talkingtoyou，hasdiminishedmychance。\"

\"Oh!\"saidIna，\"thisis_driving_meintoyournet。\"

\"Iownit，\"saidJoseph，cheerfully；\"I\'mquiteunscrupulous，becauseI

knowyouwillthankmeafterward。\"

\"Theveryideaofgoingbacktothestagemakesmetremble，\"saidIna。

\"Ofcourseitdoes；andthosewhotremblesucceed。InalongexperienceI

neverknewaninstancetothecontrary。Itistheconceitedfools，whofeelsafe，thatareindanger。\"

\"Whatisthepart?\"

\"Oneyouknow——Siebelin\'Faust，\'withtwonewsongs。\"

\"Excuseme，Idonotknowit。\"

\"Why，everybodyknowsit。\"

\"Youmeaneverybodyhashearditsung。Iknowneitherthemusicnorthewords，andIcannotsingincorrectlyevenforyou。\"

\"Oh，youcanmastertheairsinaday，andthecackleinhalfanhour。\"

\"Iamnotsoexpeditious。Ifyouareserious，getmethebook——oh!hecallsthepoet\'swordsthecackle——andthemusicofthepartdirectly，andborrowmethescore。\"

\"Borrowyouthescore!Ah!thatshowstheschoolyouwerebredin。Igazeatyouwithadmiration。\"

\"Thenpleasedon\'t，forwehavenotamomenttowaste。Youhaveterrifiedmeoutofmysenses。Fly!\"

\"Yes；butbeforeIfly，thereissomethingtobesettled——salary!\"

\"Asmuchastheywillgive。\"

\"Ofcourse；butgivemeahint。\"

\"No，no；youwillgetmesomemoney，forIampoor。Igaveallmysavingstomydearmother，andsettledheronafarmindearoldDenmark。ButI

reallysingfor_you_morethanforHomburg，somakenodifficulties。

Aboveall，donotdiscusssalarywithme。Settleitanddrawitforme，andletmehearnomoreaboutthat。Iamonthorns。\"

Hesoonfoundthedirector，andtoldhim，excitedly，therewasawayoutofhispresentdifficulty。InaKloskingwasinthetown。Hehadimploredhertoreturntotheopera。Shehadrefusedatfirst；buthehadusedallhisinfluencewithher，andatlasthadobtainedahalfpromiseonconditions——atwomonths\'engagement；certainparts，whichhespecifiedoutofhisownhead；salary，ahundredthalerspernight，andahalfclearbenefitonherlastappearance。

Thedirectordemurredtothesalary。

Ashmeadsaidhewasmad:shewastheGermanAlboni；herlownoteslikeatrumpet，andthecompassofamezzo-sopranobesides。

Thedirectoryielded，anddrewuptheengagementinduplicate。Ashmeadthenborrowedthemusicandcamebacktotheinntriumphant。Hewavedtheagreementoverhishead，thensubmittedittoher。Sheglancedatit，madeawryface，andsaid，\"Twomonths!Ineverdreamedofsuchathing。\"

\"Notworthyourwhiletodoitforless，\"saidAshmead。\"Come，\"saidhe，authoritatively，\"youhavegotagoodbargaineveryway；sosign。\"

Sheliftedherheadhigh，andlookedathimlikealioness，atbeingordered。

Ashmeadrepliedbyputtingthepaperbeforeherandgivingherthepen。

Shecastonemorereproachfulglance，thensignedlikealamb。

\"Now，\"saidshe，turningfretful，\"Iwantapiano。\"

\"Youshallhaveone，\"saidhecoaxingly。Hewenttothelandlordandinquirediftherewasapianointhehouse。

\"Yes，thereisone，\"saidhe。

\"Anditismine，\"saidasharpfemalevoice。

\"MayIbegtheuseofit?\"

\"No，\"saidthelady，atall，bonyspinster。\"Icannothaveitstrummedonandputoutoftunebyeverybody。\"

\"Butthisisnoteverybody。TheladyIwantitforisaprofessionalmusician。Topofthetree。\"

\"Thehardeststrummersgoing。\"

\"But，mademoiselle，thisladyisgoingtosingattheopera。She_must_

study。She_must_haveapiano。

\"But[grimly]sheneednothavemine。

\"Thenshemustleavethehotel。\"

\"Oh[haughtily]，_that_isasshepleases。\"

AshmeadwenttoInaKloskinginarageandtoldherallthis，andsaidhewouldtakehertoanotherhotelkeptbyaFrenchman:theseGermanswerebears。ButInaKloskingjustshruggedhershoulders，andsaid，\"Takemetoher。\"

Hedidso；andshesaid，inGerman，\"Madam，Icanquiteunderstandyourreluctancetohaveyourpianostrummed。Butasyourhotelisquietandrespectable，andIamunwillingtoleaveit，willyoupermitmetoplaytoyou?andthenyoushalldecidewhetherIamworthytostayornot。\"

Thespinsterdrankthosemellowaccents，coloredalittle，lookedkeenlyatthespeaker，and，afteramoment\'sreflection，said，halfsullenly，\"No，madam，youarepolite。Imustriskmypoorpiano。Bepleasedtocomewithme。\"

Shethenconductedthemtoalarge，unoccupiedroomonthefirst-floor，andunlockedthepiano，averyfineone，andinperfecttune。

Inasatdown，andperformedacompositiontheninvogue。

\"Youplaycorrectly，madam，\"saidthespinster；\"butyourmusic——whatstuff!Suchthingsarenull。Theyvextheearalittle，buttheyneverreachthemind。\"

Ashmeadwaswroth，andcouldhardlycontainhimself；buttheKloskingwasamused，andratherpleased。\"Mademoisellehaspositivetastesinmusic，\"

saidshe；\"allthebetter。\"

\"Yes，\"saidthespinster，\"mostmusicismerenoise。Ihateanddespiseforty-ninecompositionsoutoffifty；butthefiftiethIadore。Givemesomethingsimple，withalittlesoulinit——ifyoucan。\"

InaKloskinglookedather，andobservedherageandherdress，thelatterold-fashioned。Shesaid，quietly，\"Willmademoiselledomethehonortostandbeforeme?Iwillsingheratriflemymothertaughtme。\"

Thespinstercomplied，andstooderectandstiff，withherarmsfolded。

Inafixedherdeepeyesonher，playingaliquidpreludeallthetime，thenswelledherchestandsungtheoldVenetiancauzonet，\"Ilpescatorede\'ll\'onda。\"Itisasmallthing，butthereisnolimittothegeniusofsong。TheKloskingsungthistriflewithavoicesogrand，sonorous，andsweet，and，aboveall，withsuchfeeling，taste，andpurity，thatsomehowshetransportedherhearerstoVenetianwaters，moonlit，andthrilledthemtotheheart，whilethegreatglasschandelierkeptringingveryaudibly，sotrue，massive，andvibratingwerehertonesinthatlarge，emptyroom。

Atthefirstversethatcross-grainedspinster，withreallikesanddislikes，putabonyhandquietlybeforehereyes。Atthelast，shemadethreestrides，asasoldiermarches，andfellallofapiece，likeawooden_mannequin，_onthesinger\'sneck。\"Takemypiano，\"shesobbed，\"foryouhavetakentheheartoutofmybody。\"

Inareturnedherembrace，anddidnotconcealherpleasure。\"Iamveryproudofsuchaconquest，\"saidshe。

FromthathourInawasthelandlady\'spet。Theroomandpianoweremadeovertoher，and，beinginagreatfrightatwhatshehadundertaken，shestudiedandpracticedherpartnightandday。ShemadeAshmeadcallarehearsalnextday，andshecamehomefromitwretchedandalmosthysterical。

ShesummonedherslaveAshmead；hestoodbeforeherwithanairofhypocriticalsubmission。

\"TheFlutewasnotatrehearsal，sir，\"saidshe，severely，\"northeOboe，northeVioloncello。\"

\"Justlike\'em，\"saidAshmead，tranquilly。

\"Thetenorisaquaveringstick。Heisoneofthosewhothinkthatanunmanlytremblingofthevoicerepresentseverymanlypassion。\"

\"Theirnameislegion。\"

\"Thesopranoisinsipid。Andtheyareallimperfect——contentedlyimperfect，Howcanpeoplesingincorrectly?Itislikelying。\"

\"Thatiswhatmakesitsocommon——he!he!\"

\"Idonotdesirewit，butconsolation。IbelieveyouareMephistopheleshimselfindisguise；foreversinceIsignedthatdiabolicalcompactyoumademe，Ihavebeeninastateofterror，agitation，misgiving，andmisery——andIthankandblessyouforit；forthesethornsandnettlestheylacerateme，andmakemelive。Theybreakthedull，lethargicagonyofutterdesolation。\"

Then，ashernerveswerefemalenerves，andherfortitudefemalefortitude，shegaveway，foronce，andbegantocrypatiently。

Ashmeadthepracticalwentsoftlyawayandlefther，aswemustleaveherforatime，tobattleherbusinesswithonehandandhersorrowwiththeother。

CHAPTERII。

INtheHotelRussie，atFrankfort，therewasagrandapartment，lofty，spacious，andrichlyfurnished，withabroadbalconyoverlookingthePlatz，androofed，sotospeak，withcoloredsun-blinds，whichsoftenedtheglareoftheRhinelandsuntoarosyandmellowlight。

Intheveranda，atallEnglishgentlemanwasleaningoverthebalcony，smokingacigar，andbeingcourtedbyafairyounglady。Herlight-grayeyesdweltonhiminawaytomagnetizeaman，andshepurredprettynothingsathisear，inasofttoneshereservedformales。Hervoicewasclear，loud，andratherhigh-pitchedwhenevershespoketoapersonofherownsex；acomelyEnglishblonde，withpaleeyelashes；akeen，sensiblegirl，andnotadownrightwickedone；onlybornartful。ThiswasFannyDover；andthetallgentleman——whoserelationshewas，andwhosewifesheresolvedtobeinoneyear，threeyears，orten，accordingtohispowerofresistance——wasHarringtonVizard，aBarfordshiresquire，withtwelvethousandacresandalibrary。

AsforFanny，shehadonlytwothousandpoundsinalltheworld；socompensatingNatureendowedherwithafaircomplexion，gray，mesmericeyes，art，andresolution——qualitiesthatoftenenableapoorgirltoconquerlandedestates，withtheirmaleincumbrances。

Beautifulanddelicate——onthesurface——aswasMissDover\'scourtshipofherfirstcousinonceremoved，itdidnotstrikefire；itneitherpleasednorannoyedhim；itfellasdeadasalanternfiringonaniceberg。Notthathedislikedherbyanymeans。Buthewasthirty-two，hadseentheworld，andhadbeenunluckywithwomen。Sohewasnowa_divorce\'，_andadeclaredwoman-hater；railedonthem，andkeptthematarm\'s-length，FannyDoverincluded。Itwasreallycomicaltoseewithwhatperfectcoolnessandcynicalapathyheparriedthestealthyadvancesofthiscat-likegirl，amistressintheartofpleasing——whenshechose。

Insidetheroom，onacouchofcrimsonvelvet，satayoungladyofrareanddazzlingbeauty。Herfacewasalongbutperfectoval，pureforehead，straightnose，withexquisitenostrils；corallips，andivoryteeth。Butwhatfirststruckthebeholderwerehergloriousdarkeyes，andmagnificenteyebrowsasblackasjet。Herhairwasreallylikearaven\'sdark-purplewing。

Thesebeauties，inasterncharacter，mighthaveinspiredawe；themoresoasherformandlimbsweregrandandstatuesqueforherage；butallwassofteneddowntosweetwomanhoodbylong，silkenlashes，oftenlowered，andagraciousfacethatblushedataword，blushedlittle，blushedmuch，blushedpinky，blushedpink，blushedroseate，blushedrosy；

and，Iamsorrytosay，blushedcrimson，andevenscarlet，inthecourseofthoseeventsIamabouttorecord，asunblushingasturnip，andcoolascucumber。Thisscaleofblushesarosenotoutofmodestyalone，butoutofthewiderangeofhersensibility。Onhearingofanobledeed，sheblushedwarmapprobation；ataworthysentiment，sheblushedheart-feltsympathy。Ifyousaidathingatthefirethatmighthurtsomepersonatthefurthestwindow，shewouldblushforfearitshouldbeoverheard，andcausepain。

Inshort，itwasherpeculiaritytoblushreadilyformattersquiteoutsideherself，andtoshowthemaleobserver(ifany)theamazingsensibility，apartfromegotism，thatsometimesadornsayoung，high-mindedwoman，notyethardenedbytheworld。

ThisyoungladywasZoeVizard，daughterofHarrington\'sfatherbyaGreekmother，whodiedwhenshewastwelveyearsofage。Hermixedoriginshoweditselfcuriously。InherfigureandfaceshewasallGreek，eventoherhand，whichwasmoldeddivinely，butaslongandlargeasbefittedherlong，grand，antiquearm；buthermindwasNorthern——notagrainofGreeksubtletyinit。Indeed，shewouldhavemadeapoorhandatdarkdeceit，withatransparentfaceandeloquentblood，thatkeptcoursingfromherhearttohercheeksandbackagain，andpaintingherthoughtsuponhercountenance。