The First Violin. Fothergill Jessie

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СКАЧАТЬ with you about your voice. Adieu, meine Damen.”

      With a slight bow which sufficiently dismissed us, he turned to the desk again, and we went away.

      Our homeward walk was a somewhat silent one. Anna certainly asked me suddenly where I had learned to sing.

      “I have not learned properly. I can’t help singing.”

      “I did not know you had a voice like that,” said she again.

      “Like what?”

      “Herr von Francius will tell you all about it to-morrow,” said she, abruptly.

      “What a strange man Herr von Francius is!” said I. “Is he clever?”

      “Oh, very clever.”

      “At first I did not like him. Now I think I do, though.”

      She made no answer for a few minutes; then said:

      “He is an excellent teacher.”

      CHAPTER IX

HERR VON FRANCIUS

      When Miss Hallam heard from Anna Sartorius that my singing had evidently struck Herr von Francius, and of his intended visit, she looked pleased – so pleased that I was surprised.

      He came the following afternoon, at the time he had specified. Now, in the broad daylight, and apart from his official, professional manner, I found the Herr Direktor still different from the man of last night, and yet the same. He looked even younger now than on the estrade last night, and quiet though his demeanor was, attuned to a gentlemanly calm and evenness, there was still the one thing, the cool, hard glance left, to unite him with the dark, somewhat sinister-looking personage who had cast his eyes round our circle last night, and told us to sing as if we were damned.

      “Miss Hallam, this is Herr von Francius,” said I. “He speaks English,” I added.

      Von Francius glanced from her to me with a somewhat inquiring expression.

      Miss Hallam received him graciously, and they talked about all sorts of trifles, while I sat by in seemly silence, till at last Miss Hallam said:

      “Can you give me any opinion upon Miss Wedderburn’s voice?”

      “Scarcely, until I have given it another trial. She seems to have had no training.”

      “No, that is true,” she said, and proceeded to inform him casually that she wished me to have every advantage I could get from my stay in Elberthal, and must put the matter into his hands. Von Francius looked pleased.

      For my part, I was deeply moved. Miss Hallam’s generosity to one so stupid and ignorant touched me nearly.

      Von Francius, pausing a short time, at last said:

      “I must try her voice again, as I remarked. Last night I was struck with her sense of the dramatic point of what we were singing – a quality which I do not too often find in my pupils. I think, mein Fräulein, that with care and study you might take a place on the stage.”

      “The stage!” I repeated, startled, and thinking of Courvoisier’s words.

      But von Francius had been reckoning without his host. When Miss Hallam spoke of “putting the matter into his hands,” she understood the words in her own sense.

      “The stage!” said she, with a slight shiver. “That is quite out of the question. Miss Wedderburn is a young lady – not an actress.”

      “So! Then it is impossible to be both in your country?” said he, with polite sarcasm. “I spoke as simple Künstler– artist – I was not thinking of anything else. I do not think the gnädiges Fräulein will ever make a good singer of mere songs. She requires emotion to bring out her best powers – a little passion – a little scope for acting and abandon before she can attain the full extent of her talent.”

      He spoke in the most perfectly matter-of-fact way, and I trembled. I feared lest this display of what Miss Hallam would consider little short of indecent laxity and Bohemianism, would shock her so much that I should lose everything by it. It was not so, however.

      “Passion – abandon! I think you can not understand what you are talking about!” said she. “My dear sir, you must understand that those kind of things may be all very well for one set of people, but not for that class to which Miss Wedderburn belongs. Her father is a clergyman” – von Fraucius bowed, as if he did not quite see what that had to do with it – “in short, that idea is impossible. I tell you plainly. She may learn as much as she likes, but she will never be allowed to go upon the stage.”

      “Then she may teach?” said he, inquiringly.

      “Certainly. I believe that is what she wishes to do, in case – if necessary.”

      “She may teach, but she may not act,” said he, reflectively. “So be it, then! Only,” he added as if making a last effort, “I would just mention that, apart from artistic considerations, while a lady may wear herself out as a poorly paid teacher, a prima donna– ”

      Miss Hallam smiled with calm disdain.

      “It is not of the least use to speak of such a thing. You and I look at the matter from quite different points of view, and to argue about it would only be to waste time.”

      Von Francius, with a sarcastic, ambiguous smile, turned to me:

      “And you, mein Fräulein?”

      “I – no. I agree with Miss Hallam,” I murmured, not really having found myself able to think about it at all, but conscious that opposition was useless. And, besides, I did shrink away from the ideas conjured up by that word, the “stage.”

      “So!” said he, with a little bow and a half smile. “Also, I must try to make the round man fit into the square hole. The first thing will be another trial of your voice; then I must see how many lessons a week you will require, and must give you instructions about practicing. You must understand that it is not pleasure or child’s play which you are undertaking. It is a work in order to accomplish which you must strain every nerve, and give up everything which in any way interferes with it.”

      “I don’t know whether I shall have time for it,” I murmured, looking doubtfully toward Miss Hallam.

      “Yes, May; you will have time for it,” was all she said.

      “Is there a piano in the house?” said von Francius. “But, yes, certainly. Fräulein Sartorius has one; she will lend it to us for half an hour. If you were at liberty, mein Fräulein, just now – ”

      “Certainly,” said I, following him, as he told Miss Hallam that he would see her again.

      As he knocked at the door of Anna’s sitting-room she came out, dressed for walking.

      “Ach, Fräulein! will you allow us the use of your piano for a few minutes?”

      “Bitte!” said she, motioning us into the room. “I am sorry I have an engagement, and must leave you.”

      “Do not let us keep you on any account,” said he, with touching politeness; and she went out.

      “Desto СКАЧАТЬ