Part 36 (2/2)

And before I could prevent him his hand was upon the door It opened and we entered

A pale youngshoes, and near hi sorrowfully upon an old-fashi+oned piano, sat a young girl, with a profusion of light hair falling over her face

”Pardon me,” said Beethoven, ”but I heard irl blushed, and the young rave and so of what you said,” continued my friend

”You wish to hear--that is, you would like--that is--shall I play for you?”

There was so so comical and pleasant in the manner of the speaker, that the spell was broken in a moment

”Thank you!” said the shoemaker; ”but our piano is so wretched, and we have no music”

”Nolady--” he paused and coloured; for, as he looked in the girl's face, he saw that she was blind ”I--I entreat your pardon,” he stammered ”I had not perceived before Then you play by ear? But when do you hear the music, since you frequent no concerts?”

”We lived at Bruhl for two years, and while there I used to hear a lady practising near us During the suenerally open, and I walked to and fro outside to listen to her”

She seemed so shy that Beethoven said no an to play He had no sooner struck the first chord than I kneould follow Never, during all the years I knew hiirl and her brother He seean to wander along the keys, the very tones of the instruroeeter and more equal

The brother and sister were silent onder and rapture The forhtly forward, and her hands pressed tightly over her breast, crouched down near the end of the piano, as if fearful lest even the beating of her heart should break the flow of those le candle wavered, sank, flickered, and went out Beethoven paused, and I threw open the shutters, adht The rooest upon the piano and the player His head dropped upon his breast; his hands rested upon his knees; he seeht He re shoeerly

”Wonderful man!” he said, in a low tone ”Who and what are you?”

”Listen!” said Beethoven, and he played the opening bars of the Sonata in F A cry of recognition burst fro: ”Then you are Beethoven!” they covered his hands with tears and kisses

He rose to go, but we held him back with entreaties

”Play to us once more--only once more!”

He suffered hihtly in through the , and lighted up his glorious, rugged head and ure

”I will ihtfully to the sky and stars Then his hands dropped on the keys, and he began playing a sad and infinitely lovely ently over the instruht over the dark earth This was followed by a wild, elfin passage in triple tirotesque interlude, like the dance of spirits upon the lawn

Then ca ue is, and left us all in emotion and wonder

”Farewell to you!” said Beethoven, pushi+ng back his chair, and turning towards the door--”farewell to you!”

”You will coain?” asked they in one breath

He paused and looked coirl

”Yes, yes,” he said hurriedly, ”I will co lady soain!”

Their looks followed us in silence ht

”Let us make haste back,” said Beethoven, ”that I may write out that Sonata while I can yet remember it”