Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

HENSELT ii\
bow-window, I heard that sweetest of all singers on
the pianoforte play for more than an hour and a
half. He began with Cramer, then he passed on to
Moscheles, Weber, Chopin, and some of his own
lovely studies.
The second time I heard him during this summer
was at the invitation—I may say by the connivance
—of Frau von Henselt, who invited me to come, but
not to let myself be seen. Henselt had promised to
give a lesson in ' si oiseauj'etais ' to a lady who lived
in Hirschberg, and his wife felt pretty certain that
he would play a little for this lady. She brought me
into the porch until he began to play, and then
allowed me to come into the room close by, where
there was no door, no wall—nothing but a curtain
between us and the musician. There was a sad tone
in his playiag that morning, and when he began he
was not up to his usual tone-plane. By degrees,
however, he rose in all his greatness—suggesting to
me a city rising by enchantment out of the dust of
ages. It was a wonderful morning
When it was over I stole away, and went off to
walk and muse, and as I was returning homeward
through the promenade, I met Henselt, who had
come out to have a little walk before dinner. When
he saw me he said (he knew that I usually dined at
one o'clock, while his hour was two), ' What, not at
dinner yet ?'
' I have been listening at Villa Henselt, by the
!