"Ah, you rogue; have your critic's ears been listening to my feeble
endeavors to repay the Signor for his untiring labors?"
"One can hear your music without listening, for I was deep in thought of
the time when I shall come out from under the tyrannical power of
instructors, and can do as I like; for my part, I am tired to death of
this continual,--'Miss Winifred, this piece must be executed with milder
intonations;' or, 'Miss Winifred, that chapter of Spanish must be told
with greater fluency.' I have come to dread the very name of Professor,
and I never can look out of the window but I see some pale-faced
gentleman of the profession approaching, with his badge under his arm;
but those edifying ideas all vanished at the first strain of your 'Casta
Diva.' If I could produce such an effect, what would I not give;" and
the beauty drew her arm around the Sea-flower, and spoke in a
lower tone.
"Natalie, you know I shall come out on my eighteenth birthday, and that
will be in a very short time; then I can do as I like; but how can I
let all of these charming performances of the celebrated Madam Forresti,
whose name is in every mouth, pass without hearing her? I must say, I
was completely nonplussed, when young Montague asked me, this morning,
what I thought of her! and when I told him I had not heard her as yet,
he was perfectly astonished, and said I must hear her this very night!"
"But you did not accept of his invitation, Winnie?"
"How could I resist such a temptation? I have been longing to hear Madam
Forresti, and with Mr.
Pages:
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150