Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

SGAMBATI 51
with tears, and she added, ' I cried so much, so
much, when I went home last night, signorina ;
but
—brightening up with a sudden flash— ' I will do it !'
Another young lady student of the Conservatoire
became intimate with us much about the same time,
in the following somewhat unusual manner. The
mother of Signor Sgambati asked me one Sunday
afternoon if I would like to accompany her to a
pupils' concert, which was to take place on that day
in the academy. One or two of her son's best pupils
were to play, and among those she mentioned a
young lady of whom I had heard Sgambati himself
speak more than once very favourably. It was,
therefore, with pleasure that I accepted the invitation.
What music we had at the beginning of the seance I
do not now remember ; but when Signora Sgambati
called my attention to a young lady who had just
seated herself at the pianoforte, saying as she did so,
' That is Signoriaa G ,' I at once looked at her
with much interest and attention.
She was young and attractive-looking, with a
graceful and harmonious form, and she began to play
her piece so beautifully that I was .
quite charmed
with her performance. All at once, however, I felt
that she was threatened with a nervous panic, that
there was a danger of her tottering—in fact, breaking
down. Not venturing to glance at Signora Sgambati,
I turned towards a young lady who was my neighbour
at the other side, and, our eyes happening to meet.
'