e, and then the slight, blue eyed girl, gay in
a white dress, white satin shoes, and a pink sash, appeared. They placed
the dot of a child, violin in hand, upon the raised platform before them
all. Felix Simon, with trembling fingers, sat down to the piano to play
the accompaniment. Her father stood near to turn the leaves of the music
book, though he was so nervous and excited he hardly knew what he was
about. In the audience sat her aunt Caroline, surrounded by a few of her
friends, and all of them in no enviable frame of mind. Her mother was
too nervous and excited to appear, and remained in the ante-room.

As for Camilla, she was absorbed in that remarkable pink sash and those
satin shoes. There was never anything quite so fine, and she did hope
all the people noticed how very becoming they were. That they were
really watching her, never entered her head. With perfect
self-possession she put the violin to her shoulder, and stood ready to
play. No awkwardness, no fear, no attempt at display; a simple girl,
with a girl's manners. The critics admitted to themselves that she knew
how to hold her instrument, and could handle her bow with a certain
amount of grace. But, then, that was to be expected. Could she play?

There was not much doubt of it. The tone came, strong, full, and true.
The notes came in exact time, and with precision and certainty. The
people were hushed to a painful silence, as the child went steadily on
with the work. M. Simon was breathless with excitement, and her father
hardly knew where he was. In his haste, he turned two leaves of the
music-book at once. What a dreadful disaster! It was all over now. She
would break down at once, if the accompaniment should falter.

Not much danger; for she quietly turned her head, and in a hurried,
lisping, whisper said: "You've turned two pages, papa."

The whole house heard every word, and a smile spread over the company.
Little did she care. She went straight on; not a note lost, not a break
or a sign of hesitation. The page was turned back without a pause, and
the music went on.

This piece of music begins with an introduction in _adagio_. The opening
bars are smooth and graceful, and then the melody becomes more
difficult, and moves in sixths and thirds. It ends in a brilliant
_cadenza_, that leads to the theme in _moderato_ time. This part is not
very difficult in rhythm, and is bright and pleasing in character. The
first variation is _poco piu lento_,