Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

HENSELT 217
Meister also came by himself quite early in the morn-
ing, to hear how I had passed the night.
The following day was Sunday, and I was still very
ill and feverish, but, in spite of this, was rather enjoying
a condition which brought into play so much
affectionate sympathy from the dear old pair. Hen-
selt came in on his way to church, and, without
sitting down, began to fumble in his coat-pocket, and
slowly drew out from thence a clumsy-looking parcel
and while I was in wonder as to what he could be
bringing me, he opened the paper with an air of im-
portance, and out came a bell, which he put on the
chair beside my bed, saying as he did so, ' This is my
own bell, child. The one which my wife sent you
does not ring very loud, and I was thinking this
morning that you might ring it more than once
without being heard.'
That bell, when I had been long convalescent, and
even when I moved out of the hotel into lodgings,
still remained in my room. And one day, when
Henselt had called to see me, I said to him, 'Your
bell—don't you want to have it back ?' But he looked
dreamy and abstracted, and I confess that I felt very
reluctant to part with it, and delayed to return it
until the summer was over, and Henselt was about
to leave for St. Petersburg. I then asked him one
day, as we were walking in the ' promenade,' if I
might keep it.
' The bell ? Oh yes ; but why do you want to keep it ?'
;