the same string a fifth above so that the lower note
was partially obscured by the note above it. Double stopping they call
it. We know it as harmonics. With either name it is difficult enough for
even a man's hand. It was small wonder that the people cheered and
cried bravo! bravo! and threw flowers on the stage and actually filled
her arms with comfits and bon bons. Verdun was a great place for sugared
sweets and candied fruits and they thought they were doing quite the
proper thing by presenting some to her.
The next day they counted the money, paid all the few small bills and
found that they had four hundred francs left. Really! Things were
looking up. Their prospects were improving. Camilla was certainly a
great success. Collecting such letters of introduction as they could
obtain, they packed up and started for the next town on their programme.
Where was the wolf now? Nobody knew. Camilla had driven him away with
her violin.
CHAPTER V.
A GOOD FIGHT.
Then a short journey to Bar le Duc. As soon as they were comfortably
settled in the new place the whole ceremony was repeated. The good
friends they had found at Verdun gave them letters of introduction to
the best people and in about three weeks they had made their calls,
played at some of the grand houses and given a concert with the same
interesting result in the way of good, sound francs. How they treasured
up the little Camilla's winnings. Every franc must be saved and they
lived as cheaply and simply as possible at all times. Every centime
would be needed to carry Camilla through the two more years at the
Conservatory.
Then to Metz and Strasburg and to the Rhine. It was to be a grand tour.
The Germans must hear Camilla play. They were true lovers of music. If
they were pleased it would be a great triumph and the concerts would be
very successful. From Strasburg they went to Manheim, then up the Rhine
to Bale in Switzerland. Then back again to Baden Baden, and to
Heidelberg.
What a glorious time she had. There were rides and walks among the
beautiful hills just as the grapes were ripe. Her spirits became more
animated and childlike and her color returned. It was like some strange
dream. Mother, too was happier, and as for father he had never been so
gay and merry since they left Nantes. How that pile of francs had grown.
From hundreds it had become thousands.
At Heidelberg she had a ride on the donkeys and visited the ruined
castle high on
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