ce and scenery, that we determined to
stay there several days. We made a number of excursions in the
neighbourhood, and so once, when we had been out all day at the
Karlsberg, finding a grand bowl of punch waiting for us on our return,
we dipped into it pretty freely. Although I had not taken more of it
than was good for me, still, I had been in the grand sea-breeze all
day, and I felt all my pulses throbbing, and my blood seemed to rush
through my veins in a stream of fire. When we went to our rooms at
last, I threw myself down on my bed; but, tired as I was, my sleep was
scarcely more than a kind of dreamy, half-conscious condition, in which
I was cognizant of all that was going on about me. I fancied I could
hear soft conversation in the next room, and at last I plainly made out
a male voice saying--

"'"'Well, good night, now; mind and be ready in good time.'

"'"A door opened and closed again, and then came a deep silence; but
this was soon broken by one or two chords of a pianoforte.

"'"You know the magical effect of music sounding in that way in the
stillness of night. I felt as though some beautiful spirit voice was
speaking to me in these chords. I lay listening, expecting something in
the shape of a fantasia--or some such piece of music--to follow; but
fancy what it was when a most gloriously, exquisitely beautiful lady's
voice sang, to a melody that went to one's very heart, the words I am
going to repeat to you--

"'"Mio ben ricordati
S' avvien ch' io mora
Quanto quest' anima
Fedel t' amo;
Lo se pur amano
Le fredde ceneri,
Nel urna ancora
T' adorero'."[3]

"'"How can I ever hope to give you the faintest idea of the effect of
those long-drawn swelling and dying notes upon me. I had never imagined
anything approaching it. The melody was marvellous--quite unlike any
other.

It was, itself, the deep, tender sorrow of the most fervent love. As it
rose in simple phrases, the clear upper notes like crystal bells, and
sank till the rich low tunes died away like the sighs of a despairing
plaint, a rapture which words cannot describe took possession of
me--the pain of a boundless longing seized my heart like a spasm; I
could scarcely breathe, my whole being was merged in an inexpressible,
super-earthly delight. I did not dare to move; could only listen; soul
and bod