Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

178 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
moment or two more lie paused just opposite to me,
and pointing to the marshy ground lying between us, he
called out, ' You won't be able to get across there. If
you want to get to the pathway, you must go a good
way back ;' and so saying, without another word and
without any offer of help, to my great relief he con-
tinued his walk.
A lady, however, who was quite a stranger to me,
came up at this moment. She had been an amused
looker-on at the whole scene, and possibly thought
that I wished to join ' his Excellency,' for she directed
my attention to a moss-covered rock which ran right
through the marshy ground close up to the path. I
would have gladly continued my walk in the field,
thus going further and further from Henselt, but I
could not call out to a stranger that I had changed
my mind, and did not now wish to get on the pathway.
I therefore went where she pointed out. We
interchanged a few remarks, and she then observed,
' You want to join that gentleman, and he is waiting
for you. I will not detain you any longer.'
Yes, there he was, a little way further on—actually
waiting for me ! There was clearly nothing for it
but to pluck up courage, and go to meet the danger
with a brave face. As well as I can recollect, when I
came up with him, he neither shook hands with me,
nor uttered any of the usual words of greeting, but
just took it as a matter of course that I was to walk
with him. This simple acceptance of my companion-