Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

,
56 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
my rejoinder. ' Ah, signorina, it is no use. If I did
not know as much as I do, your colour would be quite
enough to excite suspicion ! Come, come, there's no
use in fencing. The book and the letter ! I have not
only heard of them, but I have seen them !
Don't
blame me, if I convey to you the thanks of the whole
family, and their wish to be at once presented to you.'
It was rather an embarrassing position, for all who
were near us must have pretty well guessed the
import of what we were saying. Sgambati wanted
me then and there to come up the room with him and
be introduced to the G s, a proceeding which
would, I feared, have attracted general attention. I
therefore begged him to tell them that I would wait
where I was, and when the concert was over, and they
were coming out, I would be very pleased to make
their acquaintance. Father and mother were lavish
in their expressions of gratitude to me for the sym-
pathy, the mterest, I had shown in their child.
Signora G asked if she might pay me a visit on
the followmg day ;
and when she came, brought with
her the young lady who had sat beside me at both the
pupils' concerts, and on the first occasion had shown
such bitter grief at the break-down of Signorina
G , and the second time had been so full of
genuine delight in her success. The young lady
was Signorina Ballio, then the special and most
intimate friend of Signorma G . The result of
this incident was that I came to know a good many of