s closed my window carefully in
advance, knowing that my playing had found disfavor. But even when I did
open the window, I never heard my song again. Either my neighbor did not
sing at all, or else she sang softly and behind closed doors, so that I
could not distinguish one note from another.

"At last, about three weeks having passed, I could wait no longer. Two
evenings in succession I had even stolen out upon the street, without a
hat, so that the servants might think I was looking for something in the
house, but whenever I came near the grocery store such a violent
trembling seized me that I was obliged to turn back whether I wanted to
or not. At last, however, as I said, I couldn't wait any longer. I took
courage, and one evening left my room, this time also without a hat,
went downstairs and walked with a firm step through the street to the
grocery store, in front of which I stopped for a moment, deliberating
what was to be done next. The store was lighted and I heard voices
within. After some hesitation I leaned forward and peered in from the
side. I saw the girl sitting close before the counter by the light,
picking over some peas or beans in a wooden bowl. Before her stood a
coarse, powerful man, who looked like a butcher; his jacket was thrown
over his shoulders and he held a sort of club in his hand. The two were
talking, evidently in good humor, for the girl laughed aloud several
times, but without interrupting her work or even looking up. Whether it
was my unnatural, strained position, or whatever else it may have been,
I began to tremble again, when I suddenly felt myself seized by a rough
hand from the back and dragged forward. In a twinkling I was in the
store, and when I was released and looked about me, I saw that it was
the proprietor himself, who, returning home, had caught me peering
through his window and seized me as a suspicious character. 'Confound
it!' he cried, 'now I understand what becomes of my prunes and the
handfuls of peas and barley which are taken from my baskets in the dark.
Damn it all!' With that he made for me, as though he meant to strike me.

"I felt utterly crushed, but the thought that my honesty was being
questioned soon brought me back to my senses. I therefore made a curt
bow and told the uncivil man that my visit was not intended for his
prunes or his barley, but for his daughter. At these words the butcher,
who was standing in the middle of the store, set up a loud laugh