\"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，andtoshowthemaleobserverifanytheamazingsensibility，apartfromegotism，thatsometimesadornsayoung，high-mindedwoman，notyethardenedbytheworld。
ThisyoungladywasZoeVizard，daughterofHarrington\'sfatherbyaGreekmother，whodiedwhenshewastwelveyearsofage。Hermixedoriginshoweditselfcuriously。InherfigureandfaceshewasallGreek，eventoherhand，whichwasmoldeddivinely，butaslongandlargeasbefittedherlong，grand，antiquearm；buthermindwasNorthern——notagrainofGreeksubtletyinit。Indeed，shewouldhavemadeapoorhandatdarkdeceit，withatransparentfaceandeloquentblood，thatkeptcoursingfromherhearttohercheeksandbackagain，andpaintingherthoughtsuponhercountenance。