Part 11 (2/2)

But Basil was not to be so easily satisfied.

”Herr Wildermann,” he exclaimed, going nearer to his master and pulling him gently by the sleeve, ”that can't be all. I daresay you're vexed at my giving it up when you've tried so hard to teach me, but that wouldn't make you so _dreadfully_ sorry. Herr Wildermann, do tell me all about it? Is it because--because of the money?” he whispered at last. ”Are you so--does it matter so much?”

Ulric turned his pale face to the boy. Its expression was still sad--very sad, but quiet and resigned.

”Yes, my child,” he said composedly. ”Why should I hide it? There is no shame in it--yes, it is because of the money. We are _very_ poor. And also I had hoped much from giving you lessons. I thought if I succeeded as I expected it would have brought me other pupils.”

Basil gazed up in the young man's face for a moment or two without speaking. He did not take in ideas very quickly, and perhaps he had never before in his life thought so seriously as at this moment.

”I see,” he said at last. ”I did not understand before. If I had known--but even now it is not too late, Herr Wildermann. I need not give up my lessons. I will ask mother to let me go on with them, and you will see she will agree in a moment.”

A gleam of pleasure lighted up Ulric's pale face, but it faded almost as quickly as it had come.

”Thank you for your kind thought, my little friend,” he said; ”but what you propose would not be right. It would not be right for your mother to pay me money for teaching you when she had decided that she did not want me to teach you any more. It would be a mere charity to me--it would be more honest for me to ask for charity at once,” he went on, the colour mounting to his face. ”No, Basil, it could not be; but thank you as much. Now let us go on with our lesson.”

Basil understood, but was not satisfied. The lesson pa.s.sed quietly.

Never had the boy so thoroughly given his attention, or tried so hard to overcome the difficulties which had so disheartened him.

”It is too bad,” he said to himself; ”but it is all my own fault. I believe I could have got on if I had really tried. And now it is too late. He wouldn't give me lessons now, for he would think it was only for him.”

Suddenly an idea struck him.

”Herr Wildermann,” he said, ”won't you do _this_? Suppose I ask for just six lessons more, and I _will_ try. You'll see if I don't. Well, after these six, if I'm not getting on any better, it'll be given up. But if I am, and if I really _want_ to go on, you won't think it's not right, will you?”

Ulric hesitated.

”No,” he said; ”I have no scruples in going on teaching you, for I feel certain you could learn well if you were more hopeful. But you must explain it all to your mother, and--and----” He stopped short, and then went on resolutely. ”I will not be ashamed. It is for my mother--anything for her. It was only the feeling, my boy--but perhaps you are too young to understand--the feeling that it was almost like asking charity.”

”I do understand,” exclaimed Basil, ”and I don't think I need tell mother _yet_, Herr Wildermann. I don't want to promise again, and perhaps not keep my promise. I'll just ask for the six lessons, and tell mother I can't tell her why just yet. And then think how surprised she'll be if I really do get on;” and the boy's eyes sparkled with delight. But to Ulric's there came tears of thankfulness.

If Lady Iltyd suspected in part what had worked the change in Basil's ideas and prompted his request, she was too wise to say so. His pet.i.tion for six lessons more was granted willingly, but not lightly.

”Do you really mean to profit by them, Basil?” she asked. ”If so, I am only too willing that you should go on and give yourself a fair trial.”

”That is it, mother,” said the boy eagerly, ”I want to see, to try if I can't do better. At least that is _partly_ it,” he went on, for he had already told her that he could not explain the whole just yet.

So poor Ulric Wildermann went home with a lighter heart than he had expected. He hoped much from these six lessons, for it was evident that Basil meant to put his heart into them.

”I need not tell my mother of my fears,” thought Ulric to himself, ”for they may, after all, prove to be only fears, and what would be the use of making her miserable in such a case?” And he was so bright and cheerful that evening in the little sitting-room over the grocer's shop, that even his mother's eyes failed to discover that he had had more than usual anxiety that day.

One week, two weeks, three weeks pa.s.sed. It was the day of the last of the six lessons.

”Mother,” said Basil that morning when he was starting for school. ”I have my violin lesson this afternoon when I come home, you know. Herr Wildermann told me to ask you if you would come in to-day while I am playing. Not at the beginning, please, but about half-way through. He wants you to see if I am getting on better,” and then, with a very happy kiss, he was off.

Lady Iltyd had left Basil quite to himself about his violin these last weeks. She had not _heard_ much of his practising, but she had noticed that he got his school lessons done quickly and without needing to be reminded, and then regularly disappeared in his own quarters, and she had her private hopes and expectations.

Nor were they disappointed. What cannot be done with patience and cheerfulness? Those three weeks had seen more progress made than the three months before, and Basil's eyes danced with pleasure when he left off playing and stood waiting to hear what his mother would say.

She said nothing, but she drew him to her and kissed him tenderly, and Basil, peeping up half shyly--for somehow, as he told Blanche afterwards, ”mother's _pleased_ kisses” always made him feel a little shy--saw a glimmer of tears in her eyes.

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