d
uncomfortable, she condescended to express her approval of what I was
doing, and went on:

"I am catholic in my tastes. I suppose all our friends would faint
at the idea of there being a 'singer' in the family. Now, I should
rather like you to be a singer--only be a great one--not a little
twopenny-halfpenny person who has to advertise for engagements.

"Now I am going to give you some advice. This Herr von
Francius--your teacher or whatever he is. Be cautious what you are
about with him. I don't say more, but I say that again. Be
cautious! Don't burn your fingers. Now, I have not much time, and I
hate writing letters, as you know. In a week I am to be married,
and then--_nous verrons_. We go to Paris first, and then on to
Rome, where we shall winter--to gratify my taste, I wonder, or Sir
Peter's for moldering ruins, ancient pictures, and the Coliseum by
moonlight? I have no doubt that we shall do our duty by the
respectable old structures. Remember what I said, and write to me
now and then.

"A."

I frowned and puzzled a little over this letter. Be cautious? In what
possible way could I be cautious? What need could there be for it when
all that passed between me and von Francius was the daily singing lesson
at which he was so strict and severe, sometimes so sharp and cutting
with me. I saw him then; I saw him also at the constant proben to
concerts whose season had already begun; proben to the "Passions-musik,"
the "Messiah," etc. At one or two of these concerts I was to sing. I did
not like the idea, but I could not make von Francius see it as I did. He
said I must sing--it was part of my studies, and I was fain to bend to
his will.

Von Francius--I looked at Adelaide's letter, and smiled again. Von
Francius had kept his word; he had behaved to me as a kind elder
brother. He seemed instinctively to understand the wish, which was very
strong on my part, not to live entirely at Miss Hallam's expense--to
provide, partially at any rate, for myself, if possible. He helped me to
do this. Now he brought me some music to be copied; now he told me of a
young lady who wanted lessons in English--now of one little thing--now
of another, which kept me, to my pride and joy, in such slender
pocket-money as I needed. Truly, I used to think in those days, it does
not need much money nor much room for a person like me to keep her plac