Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

28 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
as far as my knowledge of men and manners go, I
have up to the present time seldom if ever found
anyone to whom I could compare him. When the
hour's lesson was over—and never hy any chance did
he curtail this even by a few seconds—no one could
have realized, from the quiet way he stood up from
the piano and wished us good-bye as he turned to
leave the room, that every one of his minutes was
precious, and every single hour of the day filled with
pressing engagements. He always seemed to find
time for a few words of encouragement to me, and a
few more of kindly courtesy to my mother.
When the lesson was at his own house, although
his carriage was waiting at the door, he would look as
unpreoccupied, and chat with us as pleasantly while
I was putting on my outdoor wraps, as if he had
hours of leisure before him. He then accompanied
us to the top of the stairs, where I still seem to see
him stand, and make us a parting bow as we walked
down to the hall, and the servant opened the door to
show us out. My mother and I took such note of the
fact that Sterndale Bennett never seemed to be in a
hurry, that I often wondered if it would be possible
to stir him out of this repose and restfulness of
manner. One day, accordingly, when the lesson was
over and I was preparing to go, I took at least double
as much time as usual in putting on both hat and
mantle, and wound up by fastening to the last button
a pair of new and very closely-fitting gloves. The