," said Schumann; "will you sing it to us?"

"I am afraid it requires much lighter singing than I can give it," I
replied; "but I will try, if you wish."

"We shall all be glad if you will," said Mendelssohn, as he turned once
more to the key-board. The bright staccato rhythm flashed out from his
fingers so gaily that I was swept into the song without time for
hesitation:

_The Fairy Love._

"Through the woods the moon was glancing;
There I saw the Fays advancing;
On they bounded, gaily singing,
Horns resounded, bells were ringing.
Tiny steeds with antlers growing
On their foreheads brightly glowing,
Bore them swift as falcons speeding
Fly to strike the game receding.
Passing, Queen Titania sweetly
Deigned with nods and smiles to greet me.
Means this, love will be requited?
Or, will hope by death be blighted?"

"You have greatly obliged us," said Schumann courteously.

"It reminds me, though I don't know why," said David, "of that
fairy-like duet about Jack Frost and the dancing flowers."

"Come along and play it with me," said Mendelssohn to Bennett; "you've
been hiding your talents all day."

Bennett joined him at the piano, and the two began to romp like
schoolboys.

The simple duet was woven into a brilliant fantasia, but always in the
gay spring-like spirit of the poem.

[Illustration: _Painting by N. M. Price._ THE FAIRY LOVE.
"Through the woods the moon was glancing
There I saw the fays advancing.
* * * * *
Tiny steeds with antlers growing
on their foreheads brightly glowing."]

_The Maybells and the Flowers._

"Young Maybells ring throughout the vale
And sound so sweet and clear,
The dance begins, ye flowers all,
Come with a merry cheer!
The flowers red and white and blue,
Merrily flock around,
Forget-me-nots of heavenly hue,
And violets, too, abound.

Young Maybells play a sprightly tune,
And all begin to dance,
While o'er them smiles the gentle moon,
With her soft silvery glance.
This Master Frost offended sore;
He in the vale appeared:
Young Maybells ring the dance no more--
Gone are the flowers seared!

But Frost has scarcely taken flight,
When well-known sounds we hear:
The Maybells with renewed delight,
Are ringing doubly clear!
Now I no more can stay at home,
The Maybells call me so:
The flowe