Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

86 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
worst of all, there was not a tolerable piano—^not
even an upright—to be had in the whole town ! I
tried all the different music-shops, but without
success. I heard then of a musician in the town, who
was Liszt's right hand; and I went to him, to see
what he could do for me. He recommended me to
advertise, which I accordingly did. The result was
that I was offered a very nice piano on hire ;
but stUl
I had no room in which to place it, for they had
already two pianos in the hotel, and would not let
another in ! In my perplexity I went again to a
pension which was, I knew, pretty full, but the lady
had given me the impression of being good-natured,
and disposed to oblige. When she saw me come to
ask her advice as to the best way of getting rooms
and board, she said it had just occurred to her that
there was a family living close by who were looking
for children to educate, and that, as they had rooms
at their disposal, they might perhaps receive me
temporarily before anyone else came to them. Armed
with a few lines from this good-natured lady, I went
to the house indicated by her, and was shown into a
most charming pa/rterre drawing-room, where a nice
young-looking and very refined lady received me.
She read the letter, and seemed surprised at the
suggestion of receiving anyone into her home in so
sudden a fashion ; and, moreover, I felt bound to tell
her at once that it was by no means certain I could
stay very long in Weimar, for that I was feeling far