Volume II Part 28 (1/2)
”Oh, yes! ht; less electric expression, more ideal serenity,--above all, more pain above the forehead, ht without a moon, sunshi+ne without the solar rays,--the day of heaven”
”I can only say, Miss Lawrence, that you deserve to be able to do as you have done, and to feel that no one else could have done it”
”Very exclusive, that feeling, but perhaps necessary I have it, but my deserts will only be transcended if Seraphael hio with ine what you mean I have not heard the name until you spoke it Is it in the North?”
”Certainly not; though even York Minster would not be a bad notion--that is to say, it would suit our Beethoven exactly; but this is another hierarch What do you think of an oratorio in Westminster Abbey, the conductor our own, the whole affair of his? No wonder you have heard nothing; it has been kept very snug, and was only arranged by the interposition of various individuals whose influence ischiefly on the part of the profession; but that is overruled by their being pretty nearly every one included in the orchestra Such a thing is never likely to occur again Say that you will go with ive you one of the best seats, in the very centre, where you will see and hear better than ine the lorious project; may we realize it!”
_I_ could not at present,--it was out of the question; nor could I bear to stay,--there was nothing for it but to make haste out, where the air , and quitted her I believe she understood my frame
CHAPTER XIV
I walked ho the house as one at home there, I found nobody at home, no Starwood,--no Chevalier I lay upon the sofa in a day-dreaarden I searched every corner, too, in vain; but wandering past the dividing hedge, a voice floated articulately over the still afternoon
All was calhtest sound reen barrier, nowhere too high for e in that unwonted fashi+on I was in for pictures this while, I suppose; for when I reached the glass doors that swept the laide open, and could peep through the foot on that soft soil, I saw, indeed, another, a less impressive, not less expressive, view Clara sat at her piano, her side-face was in the light His ohich I was sure to find there, in profile also, was immediately behind her; but as he stood, the shade had veiled hih which one sunbeam shot, and upon the carpet kissed his feet
She was singing, as I could hear, scarcely see, for her lips opened notThe strains moulded themselves imperceptibly, or as a warble shaken in the throat of a careless nightingale that knew no listener
Seraphael, as he stood apart drinking in the notes with such eagerness that his lips were also parted, had never appeared to me so borne out of himself, so cradled in a second nature I could scarcely have believed that the face I kneell had yet an expression hidden I knew not of; but it was so: kindled at another fire than that which his genius had stolen froed, his cheek flushed
So exquisitely beautiful they looked together,--he in that soft shadow, she in that treure, now brought beforeso that she could see his face, was Laura,--or rather she half lay; soures carved in statuary have an attitude as listless, that bend on monuments, or crouch in relievo She had both her are, the hands just clasped together, as reckless in repose; her face all colorless, her eyes all clear, but with scarcely , were fixed, rapt, upon Seraphael
I could not tell whether she was feeding upon his eye, his cheek, or his beauteous hair; all her life calance, but it spent itself without expression Still, that deep, that feeding gaze was enough for me; there was in it neither look of hope nor of despair, as I could have interpreted it I did not like to advance, and waited till my feet were stiff; but neither could I retire
I waited while Clara, without co to _scena_, froers just touched the keys as we touch the, but unnoticeable At last, when afraid to be caught,--for the face of the Chevalier in its new expression I rather dreaded,--I went back, like a thief, the way I came, and still more like a thief in that I carried away a treasure of remembrance from those who knew not they had lost it
I found Starwood yet out, and roved very impatiently all over the house until, at perhaps five o'clock, Seraphael ca in the yard barked out; but I was in no huht into the hall
”Carloht you were in London Is it possible, ave orders for an instant preparation ”I aone to his father, and will stay till the last coach to-night I thought you would be absent also”
”And so, sir, I suppose you had detero without your dinner?”
He smiled
”Not at all, Carlomein The fact is, I _have_ dined I could not resist La Benetta benedetta I never knehat young potatoes were until I tasted theht; but I ise enough to hold ue
”Then, sir, I shall dine alone; and veryI like so well as dining alone, except to dine alone with you”
”Carl! Carl! hadst thou been in that devil when he tes, and have promised to return”
”Sir, if you will not think it rude, Iwhat you confer upon others I aive than to receive' I do like receiving; but perhaps that is because I cannot give this which I now receive Carlomein, there is a spell upon thee; there is a charm about thee, that makes thee lead all thou lovest to all they love! It is a thing I cannot comprehend, but am too content to feel”
He ran into his study, and returning, just glanced into the rooresse_ to bid me adieu; but what had he in his arms, if it were not the score of his oratorio? I knew its na which I could read at any earthly distance,--as to be done with it, and what then? Was he going to the rehearsal, or a rehearsal of his own?