Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

HENSELT 20
that I feared it would not be with real energy and
spirit if I felt that I was to be left outside, whilst
others were having that which I so much prized. I
posted this, and then retired to rest. But it was not
until morning that I closed my eyes, and when I
woke up, and the whole thing came back to me, it
was with a feeling of alarm that I recalled my letter
to Henselt, for I had written in a state of great ex-
citement, and I dared hardly think how he might take
it. I wrote it alternately in French and German.
When my German failed me, I fell back on French,
and vice versa. Henselt did not, however, leave me
long in suspense ; he walked in himself quite early in
the morning to see me, and his first words of greeting
were
:
' Such a long letter, my dear, and so many needless
words ! You shall, if you like to do so, have regular
lessons from me in three weeks' time. But, beUeve
me, once you have begun to study with Mademoiselle
Heinrichsen, you will so thoroughly understand my
reasons for insisting that all who study with me shall
first pass through her hands, that you yourself will
scarcely wish to leave her in so short a time.'
Impressed, convinced, and consoled by his words, I
went off with a light heart on the same day to have
my first lesson from Mademoiselle Heinrichsen. She
asked me to show her how I practised the scales, what
finger-exercises I used, and how I set about practising
my pieces.
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