ears later, in 1806, pupil and
teacher were actually engaged,--secretly, to be sure, but with full
knowledge and consent of her brother. Yet after four years of varying
conditions the match was broken off, and the composer again forced to
take refuge in the lonely comfort of his art.

But he found other consolation in the charms and the companionship of
Bettina von Brentano, whom he met at this time. According to his
letters, she was no whit behind any of the others in being his "dearest
friend," "dearest girl," and "dearest, fairest sweetheart." Soon
Beethoven was to see her, too, married to another, and, if he never
succeeded in taking the fatal plunge himself, he could at least have
the melancholy satisfaction of knowing that all the objects of his
adoration had entered safely into the holy state of matrimony.

In 1811 he met Amalia Seebald, and soon afterward inscribed in her album
the sentiment:

"Ludwig von Beethoven,
Whom if you ever would,
Forget you never should."

His feeling for her was not exactly the effervescent feeling of youth,
but the quieter, deeper sentiment of personal esteem and affection,
which comes later in life, and is therefore more lasting. Her influence
is visible in much of his later music, and the seventh and eighth
symphonies were inspired by her.

That Beethoven took a friendly interest in other love-affairs besides
his own is shown by an incident taking place in Toeplitz, where the
actor, Ludwig Loewe, was in love with the landlord's daughter of the
"Blue Star," at which Beethoven used to dine. Conversation was usually
impossible because of stern parents and a multitude of diners. "Come at
a later hour," said the girl; "only Beethoven is here, and he cannot
hear." This answered for a time, but at length the parents forbade the
actor the house. Despite Beethoven's serious reserve, Loewe had often
noticed a kindly smile on his face, and now resolved to trust him.
Finding the composer in the park, he begged him to take charge of a
letter for the girl. Satisfied with the honesty of the young man's
intentions, Beethoven did this, and next day brought back the answer,
keeping up his role of messenger during the whole of the five weeks that
he remained in the town.

Franz Peter Schubert was a true son of Vienna. Sprung from the lower
classes, he never felt wholly at ease among the aristocracy, and made no
such deep impression upon them as Beethoven did. He was most at home in
t