branch of it,
and bring into practical existence much which is, as yet, nothing but
speculation."

"Just at this moment there came suddenly floating through the air an
extraordinary sound, which, as it swelled and became more
distinguishable, seemed to resemble the tone of a harmonica. Lewis and
Ferdinand stood rooted to the spot in amazement, not unmixed with awe;
the tones took the form of a profoundly sorrowful melody sung by a
female voice. Ferdinand grasped Lewis by the hand, whilst the latter
whisperingly repeated the words,

"'"Mio ben, ricordati, s' avvien ch' io mora."

"'At the time when this occurred they were outside of the town, and
before the entrance to a garden which was surrounded by lofty trees and
tall hedges. There was a pretty little girl--whom they had not observed
before--sitting playing in the grass near them, and she sprang up
crying, "Oh, how beautifully my sister is singing again! I must take
her some flowers, for she always sings sweeter and longer when she sees
a beautiful carnation." And with that she gathered a bunch of flowers,
and went skipping into the garden with it, leaving the gate ajar, so
that our friends could see through it. What was their astonishment to
see Professor X---- standing in the middle of the garden, beneath a
lofty ash-tree! Instead of the repellant grin of irony with which he
had received them at his house, his face wore an expression of deep
melancholy earnestness, and his gaze was fixed upon the heavens, as if
he were contemplating that world beyond the skies, whereof those
marvellous tones, floating in the air like the breath of a zephyr, were
telling. He walked up and down the central alley, with slow and
measured steps; and, as he passed along, everything around him seemed
to waken into life and movement. In every direction crystal tones came
scintillating out of the dark bushes and trees, and, streaming through
the air like flame, united in a wondrous concert, penetrating the
inmost heart, and waking in the soul the most rapturous emotions of a
higher world. Twilight was falling fast; the Professor disappeared
among the hedges, and the tones died away in _pianissimo_. At length
our friends went back to the town in profound silence; but, as Lewis
was about to quit Ferdinand, the latter clasped him firmly, saying--

"'"Be true to me! Do not abandon me! I feel, too clearly, some hostile
foreign influence at work upon my whole existence, smiting upon