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''We must confess, sir,** said Joseph, ''that chance alone led us here, and that we were far from expect* ing this good fortune.**

" The good fortune is for me,** replied the amiable canon, "and you will sing for me. But no, that would be too selfish on my part; you are tired, fluting, perhaps. You shall sup first, then pass a good night in my house, and to-morrow we will make music aD day I Andr^, you will take these young people to the kitchen, and you will have the greatest care of them. But no, let them stay; set two ^places at the end of my table, and let them sup with me.**

Andrt obeyed zealously, and even with a sort <tf benevolent satis&ction. But dame Bridget showed an entirely opposite disposition; she shook her head.

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dmigged her shoulders and grumbled between her teeth,—

''These are nice people to eat off your table-doth, and singular company for a man of your rank 1 '*

''Be quiet, Bridget,'* said the canon calmly; "you are never satbfied with anything or anybody, and when you see others taking any pleasure, you fly into a rage,**

"You would do anything to amuse yourself she went on, without paying any attention to the reproof addressed to her; "with flattery and stories and cajolery, anybody can lead you like a chikl.'*

" Hold your tongue, I tell you 1" said the canon, speaking a little louder, but widiout loang his pleasant smile; " your voice is as sharp as a rattle, and if you keep on grumbling you will lose your head and spoil my coffee."

" A fine pleasure and a great honor, truly, to prepare coffee for such guests 1 **

" Oh, you insist upon distinguished people, you love greatness 1 You would like to entertain only bishops, princes and canonesses with sixteen quarterings I AD that is not worth, to my mind, a verse of a well-sung banad."*

Consuelo was astonished to hiear a man of so noUe an appearance disputing with his housekeeper with a sort of chikiish pleasure and during the whole of supper she was amazed to fina lum concerned about such puerile matters. He uttered a quantity of nothingson an sorts of subjects^ to pass away the time and keep Digitized by

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himself in good-bumor. . He was condnuaOj addressing his servants, now seriously discussing the sauce on a fish, now anxiooslj inquiring about a piece of furniture, giving contradictory orders, questioning his people about the most idle details of his housekeeping^, discussing these trifles with a solemnity worthy of serious subjects, listening to one, correcting another, resisting dame Bridget, who contradicted him about everything, and never Cauling to introduce some jest into his questions and answers. One would have said that, reduced by isolation and the quietness of his life to the society of his servants, he was trying to keep his wit in training and facilitate digestion by a hygienic exercise of his mind, not too heavy and not too light

The supper was excellent and marvellously abundant \^en the entremets were brought on, the cook was called before the canon, and affectionately praised by him for the preparation of certain dishes, mildly reproved and learnedly instructed in regard to others which had not reached the last degree of perfection. The two travellers were filled with amazement, and looked at each other, thinking it aO a ridiculous dream, so incomprehendble were these refinements to them.

*<Well, weD, you are not so bad,*' said the good canon, as he dismissed the culinary artist;^! wiO make something of you yet,.if you are wflling, and continue to love your duty*** .

'' Does it not seem," thought Consuelo, <« as if it were fatherly instruction or religious exhortation? **

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At desserty after the canon had given the hoose^. keeper also her share of praise and reproof he at last so far forgot these important subjects as to speak of musiCy and he appeared in a better light to his young guests. He had good musical education, a basis of solid studies, correct ideas and an enlightened taste. He was a moderately good organist, and having sat down at the clavichord after dinner, he played them fragments by several old German composers, which he performed with great purity of style, and in ac-cordance with the good traditions of past timed. His performance was not without interest for Consuelo^ and soon, having found upon the clavichord a large book of this ancient music, she began to turn it over. Forgetting her fatigue and the lateness of the hour, she asked the canon to play her, with his fine, broad style, several pieces which had struck her mind and her eye. The canon found an extreme pleasure in being thus listened to. The music which he knew being now scarcely in fiaishion, he rarely found ama* teurs who sympathized with him. He therefore took an extraordinary affection for Consuelb, Joseph, worn out by fiuigue, having fallen asleep in a large armchair, perfidiously easy. ''^ ■'■

''Really I ** cried the canon in a moinent of entha* nasm, ''you are a happQy gifted child, and your precocious good judgment promises an extraordinary future. This is the first time I have ever regretted the celibacy imposed on me by my profession.'- •

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tremUe, for she thous^t herself recognixed u a woman; but she qokkly recovered when the canon added simplj, —-

^ Yes» I regret having no chOdren, for heaven might have given me such a son as yoot and it would have • been the happiness of mj life, even though Bridget were the mother. But tell me, my friend, what do you think of this Sebastian Bach, whose compositions are now enrapturing the learned? Do you believe that he is a prodigious genius? I have a great book of his compositions here, which I collected and bounds because one must have everything, — and they are

really fine, perhaps. But they are extremely difficult ^^

to read; and I confess that, as I failed at the first attempt, I have been lazy enough never to try them again. Besides, I have so litde time 1 I make munc only at rare moments, snatched firom more serious labors. Because you have seen me concerned about the government of my little household, you must not £mcy that I am a firee and happy man. I am the slave, on the contrary, of an enormous, firightful task which I have imposed upon mysel£ I am making a book on which I have been woiking for thirty yean^ and which another would not have finished in sixty,— a book wluch exacts incredible study, watching, inexhaustible patience and the deepest reflection. JfuA I think the book win create a sensation.**

'MNTiU it soon be finished?'' asked Consuel(^

"Not yet, not yet,** replied the canon, desirous of concealing even finom himself that he had not yet

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commenced it ** But we were sayiog diat the mode of thb Bach is terribly difficult; and as for me, it strikes me as being odd.**

''Stilly I think that if you could overcome your repugnance, you would come to think that he is a genius who embraces, sums up and vivifies all the knowledge of the past and the present.**

''Wen,'* said the canon, " if that is the case, we three will try to decipher some of it together. It is time now for you to go to rest, and for me to devote myself to study. But to-morrow you will spend the day with me; that is understood, is it not?**

" It is a great deal to promise the whole day, sir, for we must make haste to reach Vienna; but in the morning we will be at your service.**

The canon protested, insisted, and Consuelo pre* tended to yield, resolving to hurry the great Bach*s adagios somewhat, and to leave the priory by eleven o'clock or noon. When they came to retire, a lively discusaon arose upon the stairs between dame Bridget and the first valet The zealous Joseph, dearous of pleasing his master, had prepared for the young musicians two pretty celb situated in the newly restored building which was occupied by the canon and his suite. Bridget, on the contrary, insisted on sending them to sleep in the abandoned cells of the old priory, because this wing was separated firom the new one / by good doors and strong bdt& *!

\ " What I ** said she, raiang her sharp voice in the sonorous staircase, "do you intend to lodge diese I

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vagabonds next door to ns? Do yoo not tee from their bearing, their dress and their profession that they are Bohemians, adventnrers^

wicked little bandits who win run away from here before daybreak^

taking our plate? Who knows if they will not awassinate us?-

^ Assassinate us^ those children!'' replied Joseph laughing; <'yoa are cnuQT, Bridget; old and broken as you are, you would still put them to flight only by showing your teeth.**

''Old and broken yourself^ do you hear?** screamed the old woman furiously. '' I tell you that they shall not sleep here; I will not have it.

No^ indeed 1 I should not close my eyes all night I **

''You would be very wrong; I am quite sure that these children have no more desire than I to trouble your respectable sleep. Come, have done! The canon told me to treat his guests well, and I wiD not put them in that old building, full of rats and open to every wind. Would you like to make them sleep upon the floor? ••

"I have had the gardener make up two good shakedowns for them there. Do you suppose that these barefooted rascals are acdistomed to beds of down?**

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I "They win have them to-night, at any rate, since i my master wishes it so; I obey only his orders, dame .

Bridget I Let me do my duty, and remember that \ yours, like min^ is to obey and not to command.** "Wen said, Joseph!** exclaimed the canon,who

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heaxd the whole dbpute. '^ Go and get my slippen ready, Bridget, and stop screaming. Good-night, my friends 1 Follow Josej^ and sleep welL Long live mu»c and our beautiful day of to-morrow 1 **

Long after our travellers had taken possession of their pretty cells, they heard the housekeeper scolding in the distance, like the winter wind whistling through the corridors. When the bustle which

.marked the solemn retiring of the canon had entirely ceased, dame Bridget came on tiptoe to the doors of her young guests, and quickly turned the key in each lock, to fiisten them in. Joseph, buried in the best bed he had ever met in his life, was already sleeping profoundly, and Consuelo followed his example, after laughing heartily to herself at Bridget's terrors. She who had trembled nearly every night during her journey was in her turn making some one else tremble. She might have applied to herself the faUe of the hare and the frogs; but it b impossible to assert that Consuelo knew La Fontsune's fables.

Their merit was disputed at that time by the finest wits in the workL

Voltaire laughed at them, and the great Frederick, to ape his phitosopher, profoundly de-sjrised them.

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At daybreak, Consuelo tried to leave her room, seeing the sun shining and feeling herself invited oat-side by the joyous warbling of a thousand birds which were already making merry in the garden; but dame 1 \

Bridget still held her prisoners under lock and key.' Consuelo fancied that it was perhaps an ingenious idea of the canon, who^ wishing to make sure of the musi* cal pleasures of the day, had thought it well to securer in the first place the persons of the musicians. The young girl, rendered bold and active by her male attire, examined the windows and saw that she could ea^y make her way down a strong trellis which supported a vine, and covered the whole walL She de*'

scended slowly and carefully, so as not to injure the fine grapes, reached the ground and started off into iji the garden, laughing to herself at the surprise and ^iU, disappointment of Bridget, when she should see her ^

precautions vain.

Consuelo saw under a different aspect the superb flowers and rich finits which she had admired by moonlight The morning air and the oblique coloring of the rosy and smiling sun gave a new poetry to these lovely producu of the ground. A robe of velvety satin inwrapped the fruit, the dew hung in crystal pearb ,

on every branch, and the silvered turf exhaled that ^

366 CONSUELO.

light vapor which seems to be the breath of the earth, striving to reach the sky and to unite with it in a subtle effusion of love. But nothing can equal the freshness and the beauty of the flowers^ still laden with the moisture of the night, at that mysterious hour of dawn when they open as if to reveal treasures of purity and spread abroad delicacies of perfume which the earliest and purest rays of the sun are alopejvorthy to see and enjoy fi>r a moment. • The canon's garden was a paradise to a lover of flowers. To Consuelo's eyes it was too symmetrical and too well cared for; but the fifty varieties of roses; the rare and charming hibiscus; die purple sages; the infinitely varied geraniums; the fragrant daturas, deep opal cups, impregnated with the odor of the gods; elegant asdepias, subtle poisons in TK^iich insects find a pleasant death; splendid cacti, displaying their dazzling blossoms on ^ wrinkled, oddly shaped stems, — a thousand curious and magnificent flowers iriiich Consuelo had never seen, and of which she knew neither the names nor the countries, occupied her attention for a long while.

As she examined their different attitudes and the expression of the feeling which each of them seemed to convey, she sought in her mind for the connection between music and flowers, and tried to explain to I herself the association of these two instincts in the oiganizaticm of her host For a long while the harI nxmy of sounds had seemed to her to correspcmd to the harmony of cokxrs; but it appeared to her that Digitized by

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the harmonj of these hannonies must be perfume. At that moment, absorbed in a vague and tweet reverie, she fsmcied that she could hear a voice issuing from each of those charming coroDas, and revealing to her the mysteries of poetry in a tongue hitherto

»unknown to her. The rose told her of iu pasnonate loves, the lily of iU celestial chastity; the haughty

magnolia declared to her the pure joys of aholy pride, ^]< and the little hepatica whispered to her of the delighu of a simple and obscure life. Certain flowers had strong voices which said in foil and powerfol tones, ^ I am beautifol and I reign.'* Others murmured in accents almost inaudible, but of infinite sweetness and {||l) with a strange, winning charm,'' I am ^mall and I am loved;" and all swayed together beneath the morning wind, uniting their voices in an aerial chorus which died away by degrees in the agitated grass and among the leaves, eager to gather its mysterious meaning.

Suddenly, in the midst of these ideal harmonies and this delicious contemplation, Consuelo heard sharp, horrible and painfoUy human cries coming from be* hind the clumps of trees which hid the wall of the enclosure. To these screams, which were lost in the silence of the country, succeeded the sound of wheels; then a carriage seemed to stop, and some one knocked loudly at the iron gate which opened into the ^uden on that side. But whether every one was still asleep^

or no one was willing to reply, they knocked several times in vain, and the piercing cries of a woman's voice, broken by the energetic swearing of a man caD*

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ing for help, struck upon the waUs of the prioiy, and awakened no more edioes in these insenable stones than in the hearts of those who dwelt within. All the windows on this ia^de were so carefolly stopped up to protect the canon's sleep, that no external sound could penetrate the oaken shutters, Hned with leather« and stuffed with hair. The lackeys, busy in the yard back of this building, did not hear the crie^ and there were no dogs in the priory. The canon did not like these troublesome guardians which, under pretence of driving away robbers, disturb their master's sleep. Consuelo endeavored to obtain entrance to the dwelling, to announce the arrival of these travellers in distress; but everything was so tightly closed that she gave up the effort, and, following her impulse, ran to the gate whence the sounds proceeded. -

A travelling-carriage, laden with trunks and whitened by the dust of a long journey, had stopped before the principal entrance to the garden. The postilions had dismounted and were trying to shake that inhospitable gate, while groans and lamentations came from inside the carriage.

''Open," they cried to Consuek)^ ''if you are Christians 1 There is a lady dying here 1 **

" Open!" cried, from the windows of the carriage, a woman whose features were unknown to Consuelo^ but whose Venetian accent she noticed. " My mistress wiD die if you do not speedily give her hospitality. Open, if you are men 1**

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impulse, endeavored to open the gate, but it was dosed by an enormous padlock, the key of which was presumably in dame Bridget's pocket The bell

was also fastened by a secret spring. In this tranquil and honest country, these precautions had evidendy not been taken against knaves, but against the ncHse and the annoyance of too late or too early visits. It was impossible for Consuelo to satisfy the wish of her f ' '{

heart, and she sadly endured the abuse of the maid, fj| , \ who cried impatiendy in Venetian to her mistress, ivj

''The imbecile 1 the awkward little fool who does not j'

know how to open a gate! ** ^| ||

The German postilions, calmer and more patient, were endeavoring to assist Consuelo, when the sick woman, putting her head out of the window, cried, —

''Herel by the devfl's blood, go and get some* body to open the gate, wretched litde brute that you arel" ....

This energedc apostrophe reassured Consuelo coo \\%

ceming the imminent danger of the lady. ^ If she is near dying,** she thought, ** it is of a violent death, at any rate," and, q>eaking in Venetian to this traveller, whose accent was no more doubtfid than that of her servant, said,—

<« I do not belong to this house; I only recdved hospitality here last night I will try to awaken the master, which will be neither quickly nor eaaly done. \

Are you in such danger, madam, that you cannot *

wait here padendy for a moment? •• w

•'I am in labor, you fool!" cried the travellerj «I ]

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have no time to wait. Run, shout, break everything, bring some one, help me to get in here, and you will be wen paid for your trouble T*'

She fell back screaming, and Consudo felt her knees shaking; this face, this voice, were not unknown to her.

^ What is the name of your mistress?" she cried to the maid.

^What business is that of yours? Hurry, you wretched creature! '*

ssdd the maid, greatly agitated* ''Ah, if you lose any time, you shall have nothing firom us!"

** Well, neither do I want anything," replied Con-suelo indignantly;

''but I wish to know who you are. If your mistress is a musician, she will be instantly re-ceived here, and if I am not mistaken, she is a famous singer."

"Go, my child,'* said the woman in labor, who, during the interval between the acute p^uns, recovered a great part of her coolness and eneigy; "you are not misuken; go and tell the inhabitants of this villa that the £unous Gorilla is at the point of death, unless some Ghristian or artistic soul takes pity on her position. I win pay, —say that I win pay UberaUy. Alas^ Sofia," she said to her attendant, " put me on the ground! I shaU suffer less stretched out on the road than in this infernal carriage!"

Gonsuelo was already running towards the priory^ resolved to make a frightful noise, and to reach the canon at any cost She was no longer even surprised

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or moired by the strange chance which brought thtdier her rival, the aoorce of all her evib; she was filled ooljT with a desire to asnst her.

She was q>ared the troaUe of knocking, for she met Bridget, who^

attracted at last by the screams^ was coming out of the house, followed by the gardener and the vakt

** A fine story! ** said she harshly, when Consuek) had tokl what had occurred. ** Do not go^ Andrft; do not stir, gardener I Do yoo not see that it is a plot devised by these thieves to rob and murder us? I expected it 1 — an alarm, a feint, a band of villains prowling around the house, while those to iriiom we gave lodging were trying to find an honest pretext to obtain entrance for them. Go get your guns^ gende* men, and be ready to kiU this pretended lady in labor, who wears mustaches and trousers. Ah, yes^ a woman in labor 1 if it

were so^ does she take our house for a hospital? We have no midwife here; I know nothing about such woifc, and the canon does not like mewling. How couM a lady set out on a journey when die was near her time? And if she has done it, whose fiuilt is it? Can we keep her fix>m sufiering?' Let her be confined in her carriage; she wiD be as comfortable diere as in oar house, idiere we have nothing prepared for such an event**

This speech, begun to Coosueb, and grumUed out ak>ng the whole length of the avenue^ was finished at

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\\ tives and even abase with the intractable house*

( keeper, Consuelo, trusting in the canon's goodness and

; \ , love of mu^Cy had entered the house. She sought in f| (I vain for her host's room; she onl/ went astray in this large building, with the mndings of ^riuch she was unfamiliar.

At last she met Haydn, who was looking for her, and who told her that he had seen the canon entering his orangery. They went there together, and saw the worthy man coming to meet them beneath a bower of jasmine, with a iace as fresh and smiling as that £dr autumn morning. As she looked at thb kindly natured man, walking in his comfortable wadded coat, on a path where his tender foot never trod upon a pebble in the fine, newly ) raked sand, Consuelo could not doubt that abeing

so happy, so serene in his conscience and so satisfied V\ in an Ins wishes, would be charmed to perform a good

(' action* She was beginning to repeat to him poor Gorilla's request, when Bridget appearing suddenly, \ interrupted her, and spoke as follows: —

"There is a vagabond at your gate, there,—*an opera singer, who says she is fiimous, and who looks and speaks like a shameless hussy. She says she is in. labor, and is screaming and curdng like thirty demons;, she wishes to be confined in your house; how does that suit you ? " The canon made a gesture of disgust and refusaL ^Canon,''

said Consuelo, ** whatever this woman nuqr b^ she b sufferings and her Hfe is perhaps in danger, as wen as that of an innocent creature whom

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God is caUing into this worid, and whom' retigioQ conunands you to receive here in a Christian and paternal manner. Yoa will not abandon tlus on-fiortonate woman. Yoa will not leave her to gioan and die at your gate.**

*<Isshe married?" asked the canon coldly, after a moment's reflection.

''I do not know; it h possible that she is. Bat what does it matter? God grants her the happiness of becoming a mother; he alone has the rq^

to judge her •• —

^She has told her name, sir/' said Bridget forcibly, '' and yoa must know her» you who are intimate with all the actors in Vienna. She is caUed Gorilla.'*

^Gorilla 1" cried the canon. ^She has already been in Vienna, and I heard a great deal aboot hei; They say she has a beautiful voice.**

^For the sake of her beautiful voice, let diem open the gate; she b lying on the ground, m the dust of the road," said Gonsudo.

^ But she b a woman of evi! life,** went on the canon* .'' She created a scandal at Vienna two years ago.**

''And there are many people anxious for your, benefice, canon 1 You understand me? If a womanof evil life were to be confined in your house, it.jioa)d not be considered an accident, still less a wvulc of mercy. Yoa know that Gancm Herbert has preteor sions to the jubilariate, and that he has already had a young associate deprived, on the pretext that he

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^^^' neglected the services for the sake of a lady who always confessed to him at the hours they were hekL I A benefice like yours b easier to lose than to gain.**

I These words made a sudden and decisive impresnon on the canon* He garnered them in the sanctuary of his prudence, although he seemed scarcely to have listened to them.

^There is an inn»** he said, '' two liimdred paces fix>m here; let this lady be taken there. She will find everything which s^e needs, and will be more I comfortably and more fittingly lodged than in th^

y\ house of a bachelor. Tell her that, Bridget, politely,—

very politely, I beg of you. Expkdn to the postilions the way to the inn. Come, my children,** said he to Consuelo and Joseph, ''and try over a Bach fugue with me whOe they are getting break&st for us.'*

^ Canon,** said Consuelo, deeply moved, ** wiU you ii])aiidon ** —*

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''Ahl** said the canon, stopping with an air of consternation, ''there is my finest volkameria dried up 1 I told the gardener that he did not water it oftbn enough. The rarest and most admirable plant in my garden 1 It b a &tality, Bridget, just seel Send for the gardener, that I may reprove him.**

"I will first send the &mous Corilla away from your gate,** replied Bridget going o£

"And you permit it, you coomiand it, canon?** cried Consuelo indignantly.

" It b impossible for me to do otherwise,** replied he, in a soft voice, but with a tone the calmness of

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whidi revealed aa unshakable resolation. *' I desire that no ooe speak to me about it again. Come, I am waiting for yon to have some mnsic.*' -

** We can have no more mnsic here,** replied Con-snelo, with eneigy. ''Yoa would not be capable of understanding Bach, you who have no human feelings. Ah, perish your flowers and your fruits 1

May the frost dry up your jasmines and split your finest trees 1 This fertOe earth, which gives you everything in per> fection, should yield you only briers; for you have no heart, and you steal the gifts of heaven, because you do not employ them in hospitality.'*

As she said this, Consuelo left the astonished canon looking about him, as if he had feared to tee the celestial malediction invoked by this fiery soul fiJling upon his precious volkamerias and his beloved anemones. Sie ran to the gate, idiich had remained dosed, and climbed over to get out, that she mig^ follow Gorilla's carriage, which was going at a walk towards the wretched pot-house, dignified by the canon by the name of an inn.

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Joseph Haydn, who had become accustomed to yidding to the sudden resolutions of his friend, but who was endowed with a cahnerand more reflecdve character, joined her after having gone to get his knapsack and his mnsic and, above all, his violin, their breadwinner, their consoler and their cheerful travelling companion.

Gorilla was laid upon one of those poor beds which one finds in German inns, and which are so small that one must choose whether his head or his feet shall hang out Unfortunately, there was no woman in this hovel; the mistress had gone on a pilgrimage, and the servant had taken the cow to pasture. An old man and a child were in the house, and, more frightened than pleased at receiving so rich a traveller, allowed their household gods to be pillaged, without thinking of the profit which thef might make. The old man was dea(

and the child set out in search of the midwife of the neighboring village, which was at least a league o£ The postilions were much more concerned about their horses^ which had nothing to eat, than about their traveOer; and Gcmlla, left to the care of her maid, who had.lost her head, and was screaming almost as loud as she, filled the air with her groans^ which resembled those of a lion more than those of a woman. Gonsudo^ fing^-

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ened but foil of pity^ resolved not to abandon the unfortunate creature.

*< Joseph,'' she said to her comrade, ^go bade to the pri<»y, even if you are badly received; we must not be proud when we are begging for others. Ten the canon that he must send here linen, bouilloo, old

wine, mattresses, blankets,—everything^ in short, which b necessary for a sick person. %>eak to him ^

gently, but strongly, and promise him, )i necessary, )|

that we win go and make music for him, if he win send help to this woman.**

Joseph departed, and poor Consuelo witnessed the repulsive spectacle of a woman without fiuth and with* out heart sufferings amidst imprecations and btat-phemies, the august martyrdom of maternity. The chaste and pious child shuddered at the sight of these tortures which nothing could mitigate, since instead \ of a holy joy and a religious hope, distaste and angier filled Gorilla's heart She never ceased to curse her

fate, her journey, the canon and his housekeeper and l| 'I even the child which she was about to bring into ^^ '

the world. She abused her servant, and rendered her completely inciqpable of any inteUigent service. flnaUy she cried out to her,—

^ Leave my sight 1 You annoy and irritate me i **

Sofia went outside to weep, and Consudo^ left alone with CoriUa, strove to calm and succor her. In \\

the midst of her torments and her fory, she preserved J

a sort of brutal courage and wild strength which ^ /]

revealed aU the unpiety of her fiery and vigorous ]

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nature. When she enjoyed a moinent*s respite, she became stoical and even playfuL

'< Per dio santo 1" she said suddenly to Consnelo, whom she did not at all recognize, never having seen her save from a distance or upon the stage, in costumes very different from that which she was then wearing, ''this is a fine adventure, and few would believe me if I told them that I had been confined in a pot-house, with such a physician as you, for you look IDce a litde Zingaro, with your dark skin and black eyes. Who are you? Where are you from? How came you here, and why are you serving me? Ah, do not tell me; I could not listen to you, I am suffering too much. Ah, misera me 1 if only I do not die 1

Oh, no, I will not die 1 I do not wish to die 1 Sngaro, you will not abandon me? Stay here, stay here 1 Do not let me die, do you hear?

And the cries began again, interspersed with more blasphemies.

''Accursed child 1'' she cried; "I would like to tear you out, and cast you from me 1 **

"Oh, do not say thatl" cried Consuelo, fix>zen with horror; "you are about to become a mother, and you will be happy to see your chfld; you will not regret having suffered.**

"I?** said Gorilla, with cynical coolness; "do you think that I shall tove that child? Ah, how mistaken you are 1 As if I did not know what a fine pleasure it is to be a mother 1 To suffer in labor, to toil to .

support the poor creatures whom their iathers disown.

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to see them suffer themsetves^ not to know what to do with them, to suffer in abandoning them,— ion after all one loves them; but I wiU

not love this <Hie t Ah, I swear to God that I wiU not love it, tfiat I will hate it as I hate iu iather 1" and Gorilla, whose cold and bitter air concealed an increasing delirium, cried, in one of those exasperated outbursts which frightful suffering forces from women,—

<" Ah, curaed, thrice cuised, be the froher of this child r Inarticulate cries suffocated her; she tore in pieces the kerchief which covered her robust bosom, heaving with pain and rage, and seizing Gonsuelo*s arm, upon which she left the marks of her fingers, clenched in her torture, she cried, ** Gursed, cursed, cursed, be the vile and infamous Anzoleto I **

Sofia returned at that moment, and a quarter of an hour later, having succeeded in delivering her mis-tress, she threw upon Gonsuelo's knees the first garment which she snatched b/chance from a hastily opened trunk. It was a theatrical mantle of fiuled satin, fringed with tinseL It was in these improvised swaddling clothes that Albert's pure and noble betrothed received the child of Anzoleto and Gorilla.

''Gome, madam, console yourself** said the poor maid, in a tone of simple and sincere kindness^ ''you are happily delivered, and you have a fine girL"

"Girl or boy, I no longer suffer,** replied GoriOa, raising herself upon her elbow, without looking at her chiki; " give me a 1^ of wine.**

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Joseph had just brought some from the priory, and of the best. The canon had complied generoosl/^ and soon the invalid had an abundance of every thing which her condition required. Gorilla raised with a firm hand the silver goblet which they handed to her, and emptied it with the coolness of a vivandiere; then, throwing herself back on the -canon*s comfortable pillows, she went to sleep with the indifference whidi comes from an iron body joined to a heart of ice. During her slumber, the child was properly swaddled, ami Consuelo went to a neighboring meadow to find a sheep which could serve as its first nurse. When the mother awoke, she had herself lifted up by Sofia, and having drank another glass of wine, she remained thoughtfid for a momdat. Consuelo, hold* ing the child in her arms, awaited the awakening of maternal love; but Gorilla had quite different matters in hermind. She gravely sang a scale of twooctave% clapped her hands together and cried,—

** Brava, Gorilla 1 your voice b not at all injured. You can have as many children as you like."

Then she burst into a laug^ kissed Sofia, and placed a diamond upon her finger, saying, —

** It is to console you for the abuse I gave you^ Where is my little monkey? Ah, n^ God 1" she cried, as she looked at her child, ''it b Monde, it resembles himl Somuchthe worse forit; badluck toitl Do not unpack so many trunks, Sofia; what are you thinking of? Do you suppose I intend to stay here? Nonsense 1 You are a fool, and you do not know yet

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what life is. I expect to tet oat to-monow. AK

Zingara, you hold children like a real womaa 1 Do jo% ) know, Sofia, I have never been better attended or cared Cor? So you are from Venice, my little friend?

Have yon heard me sing?**

Coi^elo did not answer these questions; her reply woukl not have been listened to. Gorilla filled her with horror. She handed the child to the innrservant, who had just returned, and who seemed to her a good creature; then she called Joseph, and returned to the priory with him.

''I did not promise,** said he, on the way, ^tt> bring yon back to the canon* He seemed ashamed of his conduct, although he affected great ease and playfulness; he is not a bad sort of man, in %fiVt of his selfishness. He appeared really happy to send Gorilla everything whidi could be usefid to \ ^\

her.** - ! /

^There are souls so fiightfolly hard,** replied Con* sudo, ** that weak ones ought to inspire as with pity rather than disgust I wish to repair my rudeness to the pck>r canon; and since Gorilla is not dead, ance, as they say, the mother and child are doing weD, since our canon contributed to tins result as much as \ ; he could without risking the loss of his dear benefice, I wish to thank him. Besides, I have my reasons fiir remaining at the priory until Gorilla leaves. I will tell you them to-morrow.**

Bridget had gone to a neighboring farm, and Gon-sudo, who expected to have to face that Gerberus,

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had the pleasure of being received by the afiable and ; i. courteous Andr^

^Ah» come along^ my little friends I ** said he, leading the way to the canon's apartment, ^ my master is in a frightful melancholy* He ate hardly anything at breakfast, and his siesta was broken three times. He has had two great griefr to-day—he has lost his finest volkameria and the hope of hearing any muac Fortunately, you have returned, and one of his sorrows will be lightened.**

'^ Is he making frin of his master or of us? ** said Consuelo to Josqih. Ill ''Of both,'* repUed Haydn. <«If the canon is not suDgr, we will have an amusing time."

Far from sulking, the canon received them with open arms, forced them to breakfast and then went to / the piano with them. Consuelo made him understand

and admire the admirable preludes of the great Bach, and, to complete putting him in a good humor, she sang him the finest airs in her repertory without tiying todi^;uise her voice, and without

much caring whether he guessed her sex and her age. The canon was determined not to guess anything, but to enjoy the beauty of ^riiat he heard. He was a really passionate kver of music, and his enthusiasm had a sincerity and a warmth by which Consuelo could not help being touched.

^ Ah, dear child, noble child, happy chiM 1" cried the good man, with tears in his eyes, ''you have made this day the fiurest of my life. But what will become

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of mc hereafter? No, I can never bear the lo«of wch a pleasure, and ennui will consume me. I can never make music again, for my heart will be filled with an ideal which everything win cause me to rcgiet. I shall care for nothing, not even my flowers'* —

*« And yott will be very wrong, canon,** replied Con-sueU), " for your flowers sing better than I do.**

** What do you mean? My flowers sing? I have

never heard them.**

*< It is because you have never listened to them. I. heard them this morning; I surprised their mysteries and understood their melodies.**

<«You are a strange child, a chQd of genius 1** cried the canon, caressing Consuelo's brown head with fctheriy tenderness; "you wear the livery of poverty, and you ought to be borne in triumph. But tell me who jrou are; how did you kam what you know?**.

" By chance, by nature, canon.** ,

*«Ah, you are deceiving me!** slyly replied the : ^y^\

canon, who was fond of a jest, **you are a son of Cafiarelli or FarineUil But listen, my children,** he added, in a serious and earnest tone; '^ I do not wish you to leave me. Remain with me; I will take care of you. I am rich, I will give you part of my fortune, I will be for you what Gravina was for Metas-tasio. It will be my happiness, my glory. Attach yoursehres to my service; it will only be necessary to

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take minor orders. I wiU obtidn mce little b e n efic es | ^ '

foryou,andaftermy death you win find some modest [ \ I

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savings which I do not intend to leave to that harpy Bridget" . : : As the canon said this, Bridget came in suddenly and heazd him. ,....,

''And I/' she cried, in a screaming voice, and with tears of rage,'' do not intend to serve yon any longer. I have long enough sacrificed my youth and my ij; reputation to an ungrateful master.**

''Your reputation? your youth?'* said the canon mockingly, without being disconcerted. "You flatter yourself my poor old woman* What you are pleased to can the one protects the other.**

" Yes, yes, jest 1 ** she replied, " but make up your mind never to see me again. I will immediately leave this house, where I can establish neither order nor decency. I wished to keep you from committing '

follies, from wasting your property, from degrading your rank, but I see that it is in vain. Your weak character and your evil star are hunying you to your ruin, and the first jack-puddings that you meet can turn your head so completely that you are. ready to allow them to rob you. Canon Herbert has wishedme to enter his service for a long while, and offers me greater advantages than you give me. I am tired of all that I see here. Make out my account I will not qpend thd night under your roo£**

"Has it come to this?** said the canon calmly. "Well, Bridget, you give me great pleasure, and I hope you will not change your mind. I have never dischaiged any one, and I believe that if I had the Digitized by

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devQ in my service, I should nol turn him oat, I am so good-natured.

But if the devil were to leave me, I diould wish him a pleasant Journey, and sing a Magnificat on his departure. Go and pack up your things Bridget, and as for your account, make it out yourself.

You shall have all that you want, all that I possess, if you win only go away quickly.**

''But canon,** said Haydn, quite moved by this domestic scene, ^ you will miss an old servant^ who seems greatly attached to you **—>

''She is attached to my benefice,** replied the canon, " I shall miss nothing but her coffee.**

" You will soon learn to do without good coffee^ canon," said the austere Consuelo firmly, "and you win do wen. Be sHent, Joseph, and do not plead for her. I wish to say it because it is the truth. She has a bad nature, and she b hurtful to her master; He is good; nature has made him noUe and generous. But this woman makes him selfish. She ie» presses the good impulses of his heart; and if he keeps her, he wiU become hard and inhuman like her. Pardon me if I speak to you thus^ canon* You have made me sing so much, and have created such exalta* tion in me by dbplajring your own, that perhaps I am a Uttle beside myselfl If I fed a sort of intoxicatioa, it is your fault; but be sure that the truth speaks in such intoxication, for it is noble and brings out aU that is best in us. It brings our hearts to our lipi^ and it is my heart which is now speaking to you. When I become calm, I shan become more respeofii^

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bat not more iibcere. BeUeve me, I care nothing for your fortune; I have no wish nor need of it. When I wish ity I can have more than you, and the Ufe of an artist is so hazardous a one that yoo will perhaps oudive me. It may be my &te to inscribe your name in my will, from gratitude for your having wished to make yours in my favor. To-morrow we go away, never again to see you, it may be; but we shall go with our hearts filled with joy, respect, esteem and gratitude, if you send away dame Bridget, whose pardon I beg for my opinion.**

Consuelo spoke with so much fire, and the firank* ness of her character was so clearly depicted on her features, that the canon was sOuck as by a lightning-flash.

^Go, Bridget," said he to his housekeeper, with a dignified and firm air. ''The truth speaks by the mouths of children, and that chOd has something great in his mind. Go, because you caused me to perform an evil action this morning, and you will make me perform others, for I am weak and somer times timid. Go^ because you make me unhappy, and that cannot gain your salvation. Go," he added with a smOe, *' because you are b^;inning to bum your coflfee, and to turn all the cream near which you put your nose.**

This last reproach was more bitter to Bridget than an the others, and her pride, wounded in its most sensitive spot, closed her mouth completely. She drew herself up, cast upon the canon a look fidl of Digitized by

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pity, almost of contempt, and went out with a theatrical air. Two hours later she left the priory, after having pot it somewhat to sack.

The canon appeared not to notice it, and fiom the lur of contentment which ^read over his face, Haydn saw tfiat Consoelo had done him a real service. At dinner, to keep him from having the least r^ret, she

made lus coffee in the Venetian Cuhicm, which is the best in the workL Andird immediately began to study it under her direction, and the canon declared that he had never drank better coffee in his life.

They had more mosic that evening, after sending to inqmre after Gorilla, who was already up and seated, thqr said, in the easy-chair which the cancm had sent her. They walked by moonlight in the garden, and the canon, leaning on Consaelo*s arm, never ceased to nige her to take vd&dox orders and to live with him as hb adopted son.

**Take care/' said Joseph, when they went up to their rooms, ''this good canon is becoming somewhat too seriously attached to yoo.**

''Nothing need worryus on a journey,**she replied. "I shall no more be an abbe than a trumpeter. Heir Mayer, Count Hodiu and the can<Hi have all reckoned without their host"

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CHAPTER XXIL

/ However, Consuelo bade Joseph good-night and

'!{' went to her room without warning' him to start at I i* dawn, as he had expected. She had her own reasons

j I, for not hurrying, and Joseph waited till she should jj reveal them, enchanted to spend a few hours more in jl I this pretty house, where he lived this pleasant life

!!'/ of the canon's, which suited him exacdy. Consuelo

*; |i allowed herself to sleep late, and to appear only at the

{ canon's second break&sL The good man was accustomed to rise early, to take a light and diunty repast, to walk, breviary in hand, in his gardens and hot-' houses, to examine his plants, and then to take a

second nap, until his late break&st

** Our neighbor the traveller is well," he said to his young guests, as soon as he saw them. ^IsentAndr6

to prepare her breakOsist. She expressed much gratitude for our attentions, and as she is preparing to leave ji| for Vienna to-day, contrary to all prudence, I must confess, she sent to b^ you to go to her, that she might compensate you for the charitable zeal which you showed towards her. So, my children, breakfast quickly and go; no doubt she has some pretty present foryott.**

** We win breakfast as slowly as you please, sir,** ^ replied Consuelo, '<ani we will not go to see the nek il:

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woman; she no longer needs us, and we shall never need her presents.** . }