Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

Mr MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
let me study under him, of whom we all that time,
and ever afterwards, always spoke as ' Starwood ' ; but
I had to beg and pray for some time before my wish
was granted/ My mother did, however, at last write
to Sterndale Bennett, and ask him whether he would
give lessons to a young lady who would be sent for
that purpose to London, for a few weeks. He replied
that his time was so fully taken up just then that he
could not spare a single hour ;
that he could not even
promise to give lessons in three months hence.
This letter naturally impressed us all (my mother
especially) with an idea of Sterndale Bennett's position,
and the value which was attached to his lessons.
He had in his reply kindly offered t6 recommend
another professor, but this I would not hear of ; and
at my entreaty another letter was written to him,
saying that we would wait, but that my mother hoped
he would be able to receive me at Easter. (I believe
she put in a little word suggestive of my being very
much absorbed in music.) At Easter, to my joy, a
letter ' came, which named a possible date ' in about
a fortnight's time; and in a few days after the
receipt of this letter I started for London, under
the charge of a middle-aged family friend.
On arriving there, we took rooms in Grower Street,
and hired a very nice Broadwood ; and the same
evening a letter, announcing our arrival, was sent to
Sterndale Bennett. He, however, to my extreme
disappointment, could not give me my first lesson for