Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

232
MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
and though he turned to wish me good-bye before he
passed into the street, his face told me that he was
not in a yielding mood, and that for that day at least
I had better leave the matter as it stood. But the
same evening I ran down to Mademoiselle C , one
of his lady-teachers, the one who, after Mademoiselle
H , held the highest place in his favour and
confidence.
' Don't worry about it,' said this kind and intelligent
woman to me; ' but wait a day, and then go to his
house at the time when you know he is just getting
up from his breakfast, insist on getting in somehow,
and seeing him for a minute ; and don't be too proud
—remember who he is. And you did really hurt his
(imour propre, when you stayed away those three
weeks in the winter. I believe that he means to
make you entreat him before he gives in, and I am
sure that, as he really is fond of you, he himself will
be very glad to do so ; but you must show him that
you want it very much; and, as I said before, you
must not be proud, or so shy that you let yourself be
rebuffed by his first words of refusal.'
Fortified by her kindly counsel and sympathy, I
went to his house on the next day but one, at the
hour she had suggested, and saying to his man, ' I
must see your master, just to ask a question,' I was
at once told to walk into his sanctum. He was
standing putting on his coat, while both the house-
keeper and man busied themselves in helping him.