Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

HENSELT 199
a glance of warm and kindly interest. I had naturally
not liked to make my difficulties a subject of conversa-
tion at the dinner-table; but when by myself once
more in the hotel I began to feel very worried and
perplexed. Mademoiselle Nadine had suggested my
hving in the hotel—a thing I had never thought of
doing ; for it was not only expensive, but miles away
from where her sister lived, and also from Henselt
and I felt pretty sure that, for anyone who wished to
practise much, the hotel would not be a suitable place
to reside.
There seemed no chance of anything, and I had
been already three or four days in the hotel, when
I made the discovery that there was a German paper
published in St. Petersburg, and, going to the office
of this paper, I advertised. The family of a retired officer
answered my advertisement, offering me two large airy
rooms and board in their house. Mademoiselle Heiii-
richsen accompanied me there, in order to assist me in
making the necessary arrangements. I was charmed
to find- that it was only ten minutes' walk from the
street in which Henselt lived. I at once decided on
gping there, and on the following day I arrived, pre^
ceded by a grand piano, and settled myself down.
Before I had had my first lesson from Mademoiselle
Heinrichsen, a little contretemps occurred which, had I
not spoken out my mind then and there, would have
materially damped the energy which made my studies
with her ao successful.
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