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。