brilliant, the way seemed inviting, but it was not available. In his
doubt and perplexity over the matter M. Urso went to his friend and
companion in the orchestra, Felix Simon. M. Simon played the first
violin at the theatre, and one night they talked it over between the
acts.

If Camilla was so exceedingly anxious to play she must have some latent
talent. Should she prove a genius or a prodigy it might be the means of
bringing the family a fortune. Paris offered the only field for
instruction and Paris meant a very great deal of money. With her present
limited resources the thing was not to be considered for a moment.

M. Simon heard it all patiently, talked with the child about it and
before her very eyes turned himself into an angel by offering to teach
her himself. At first the family could not believe that such good
fortune was possible. Still, it was true. M. Simon would teach Camilla
one year without pay if he might be allowed to have entire control of
her studies. She was to follow his instructions in every thing, she was
to have no "pieces" and was to give her whole time to her lessons. If,
when the year's instruction was finished, the child really showed a
decided genius for the violin it might be well to talk about Paris. If
she then exhibited merely a talent for the art, the instruction could be
dropped and no harm or serious loss of time would come from it.

This liberal offer was, of course, accepted. M. Simon was a friend,
indeed. They could never repay him. It was of no consequence he said. If
Camilla proved her genius it would be reward enough to be known as her
first teacher.

So it was that the little girl not quite six years of age had her
darling wish and took her beloved violin under her arm and trotted off
to M. Simon's house at the other side of the city near the beautiful
park called the Cours St. Pierre, where she had spent so many pleasant
days playing under the trees.

It was a small affair. Her arms and fingers were too short for an
instrument of the ordinary size and a little violin costing ten francs
($2) must answer every purpose.

The gossips might talk and quarrel over it in the steep streets of the
quaint, sleepy old town. They could say what they pleased. Little did
she care. She was going to learn to play the violin. That was happiness
enough. Her father was to teach her the elements of music and Felix
Simon was to show her how to play.

First she must learn how to stand, h