e
the air-bubbles in a well. Satisfied, apparently, by the evidences of
my approval, she had no sooner finished than she began another. This was
somewhat more pretentious, and, from what I could gather, represented a
parting scene between a lover and his mistress. There was, at least, a
certain action in the song which intimated this. The fervent
earnestness of the lover, his entreaties, his prayers, and at last his
threatenings, were all given with effect, and there was actually good
acting in the stolid defiance she opposed to all; she rejected his vows,
refused his pledges, scorned his menaces; but when he had gone and left
her, when she saw herself alone and desolate, then came out a gush
of the most passionate sorrow, all the pent-up misery of a heart that
seemed to burst with its weight of agony.

[Illustration: 252]

If I was in a measure entranced while she was singing, such was the
tension of my nerves as I listened, that I was heartily glad when it
was over. As for her, she seemed so overcome by the emotion she had
parodied, that she bent her head down, covered her face with her hands,
and sobbed twice or thrice convulsively.

I turned towards Vaterchen to ask him some question, I forget what, but
the little fellow had made such good use of the decanter beside him,
while the music went on, that his cheeks were a bright crimson, and his
little round eyes shone like coals of fire.

"This young creature should never have fallen amongst such as you!"
said I, indignantly; "she has feeling and tenderness,--the powers of
expression she wields all evidence a great and gifted nature. She has,
so to say, noble qualities.'

"Noble, indeed!" croaked out the little wretch, with a voice hoarse from
the strong Burgundy.

"She might, with proper culture, adorn a very different sphere," said
I, angrily. "Many have climbed the ladder of life with humbler
pretensions."

"Ay, and stand on one leg on top of it, playing the tambourine all the
time," hiccuped he, in reply.

I did not fancy the way he carried out my figure, but went on with my
reflections,--

"Some, but they are few, achieve greatness at a bound--"

"That's what she does," broke he in. "Twelve hoops and a drum behind
them, at one spring; she comes through like a flying-fish."

I don't know what angry rejoinder was on my lips to this speech, when
there came a tap at my door. I arose at once and opened it. It was
Francois, with a polite message from Mrs.