nter, to have only a
decomposing influence upon it.

The Justice looked at her with his good-natured eyes, wholly at a loss
to know what she meant, and stroked his obstinate whiskers; he could
not imagine that this was intended to prepare the way for what his wife
was to impart to him. He excused himself and soon went away; his wife
informed them that Lina had joined the Liederkranz of the town; they
were practising now for the great musical festival which was to be held
in the neighboring city, and to Lina would undoubtedly be assigned a
solo-piece.

Frau Bella spoke very advisingly, and at the same time very
discouragingly. She expressed her dislike of musical festivals, being
convinced in her own mind that she alone understands music, and that
the music which she fancies is the only genuine music. In these days,
hundreds of young people of both sexes, of ordinary standing in
society, sing in the musical festivals an oratorio of Haendel, Haydn,
Bach, and this vexed Bella; these people are convinced that they know
something. If she had had power, she would have had the police put a
stop to these meetings. For this reason, Frau Bella had a special spite
against the oratorio, but she only said,--"I have no appreciation of
it;" and inasmuch as she said, "I have no appreciation of it," this
ought to be ample evidence that there is nothing in it to be
appreciated.

She was exceedingly gracious and condescending. She said that she did
not question the merits of the German masters in oratorio. The truth
is, that it was extremely repugnant to her to have the Justice's
wife, the wife of the school-director, and the two daughters of the
head-forester, and even perhaps the tailor's and cobbler's daughters,
presuming to be interested in high art, when not one of them could
sound a single true note.

Lina now acquired a new importance, for there was a general expression
of desire to hear her sing. The English ladies asked very pressingly
for a German song, but Lina, who usually was not backward, to-day was
not willing to comply. Her mother's eyes flashed, but Frau Bella placed
her hand upon the arm of the angry mother, and an unheard of event
happened; saying that she did not blame Lina for not being willing to
begin to sing abruptly, without any preparation, she arose, went to the
grand piano, preluded, and then played a sonata of Mozart in masterly
style. All were happy, and the Justice's house, highly exalted, for
none cou