Only a Singer. A novel

Chapter I

" What do you intend to do with Franz, Di?" " What should I do with him, Alice ? And have I the entire disposal of Franz Berger's unmanly person ? " " I do not see why you call him unmanly." " Well, he may not be absolutely effemi nate, but I cannot endure those straw coloured men." " Then why do you encourage him ? " " Encourage him ! In what ? His many pernicious ways ? Why ! I am constantly preaching to him ! " " You know what I mean. You must be perfectly aware he is in love with you." " Is he ? " was the careless reply. " How B ■2 ONLY A SINGER. very foolish. But," continued the young lady with some animation, " pray, my dear Alice, do not you, above all people, adopt the cant phrases one only hears from a set of women who never in their lives had an opportunity of 'encouraging' a gentleman.

They have very singular ideas on the point. Ac cording to their views, when a girl meets a man who appears to find some pleasure in her society, she must either make herself positively disagreeable to him, or incur the risk of being said to encourage him. Now, to start with, she must be very conceited to impute love to every man who shows a little interest in her. Yet she is apparently ex pected to do so, and then calmly calculate the chances of his inspiring a reciprocal attachment. If she decides the reverse — and how can she decide until she knows him quite well? — she is expected to deprive her self of what may be a very pleasant acquaintance, or to remain exposed to the accusation of ' encouraging ' him." " How very eloquent you are, Di ! But my remark was not intended as a reproach. You know, dear, I am sufficiently deluded to think you perfect in every way ; but I am afraid it may cause you some future annoyance if we do not face facts, and ask our selves the meaning of Franz's frequent visits here.

Perhaps he comes to see me," added Alice, laughing. As Diana Barry is our heroine, and her friend Alice occupies a somewhat important place in this history, it may be as well before proceeding further to give in the orthodox manner some description of them and their present surroundings. We are introduced to the young ladies while they are at breakfast in their student apartment in Leipzig, where they were pur suing their studies. Diana, the eldest, was preparing for an artistic career at the renowned Conservatoire of Music. She possessed a considerable amount of talent, and, having been carefully taught as a child, had already attained a certain degree of efficiency on her instrument — the violin. She played not only with technical facility, but e:reat musical taste. Her father was a clergyman, and had formerly been British Chaplain at Constantinople, where he married, under very romantic circumstances, a beautiful Roumanian woman, the daughter of a distinguished diplomat, and where Diana was born.

The union had also given them two sons, one of whom had died young, the other was preparing for the army. Mr. Barry lost his wife soon after the birth of their youngest child, and some years before our story commences. Mr. Barry, for some inexplicable reason, married again. His second wife was a well-meaning woman, exhibiting few characteristics of the tradi tional step-mother, but quite unable to com prehend or sympathize greatly with her step daughter. They were very good friends, but appreciated each other's qualities better when viewed from a certain distance than from a near point of observation. These circumstances, added to the fact that the means of the family were not large (Mr. Barry holding at this time a small living on the outskirts of London), caused Diana to insist on being allowed to utilize her musical talent as a profession, and on going to Ger many, where were to be found the greatest facilities for developing that talent.

She affirmed, moreover, her intention of pursuing other aims in life besides the one to which young ladies most exclusively con fined themselves, or which an omnipotent but short-sighted society prescribed for them — that of securing an eligible husband. These independent resolutions startled her relations, and were met by them with every argument and remonstrance. But although not so determined in all matters, in this case Diana made a firm resolution, and adhered to it. Argument was met by argument, and finally an unwilling consent to her plan was given. When we first meet Diana, she is just nineteen years of age. Though scarcely above middle height, she was graceful, well formed, almost commanding in figure. She held herself very erect, and this somewhat added to her apparent height. Without being perfectly beautiful, her male friends could all attest, and even her female friends were bound to admit, that she possessed to a great degree that undefinable something we call " charm."

The great beauty of her face was the large hazel eyes, which looked black at night, and were indeed in her case the mirror of the soul, so clearly did they reflect every passing thought. Her mouth was small and well-formed, the short upper lip betraying her southern blood more than her complexion, which was fair. A wealth of golden chestnut hair did not detract from her appearance, and at the moment our story begins it was still hanging loosely over the light morning gown. The imagination of my readers — gentle or already savage as the case may be — will perhaps picture to them selves something very elegant in that par ticular branch of female attire. Let me not deceive them on this or other points. My heroine is neither startlingly beautiful, phenomenally clever, nor good to what Mark Twain would term " a degree of eccentricity."

Any eccentricities of which Diana Barry might have been guilty were of an entirely opposite nature, and the pink morning gown referred to was undeniably shabby. Diana's character might be described as a series of contradictions. Though warm hearted and impulsive, on some occasions she was reflective and calculating. Her ONL Y A SINGER. 7 remarks often bore a tinge of cynicism scarcely pleasant in one so young, but though sceptical in theory, she never carried it into practice. Her belief in the merits of those persons who took her fancy was im plicit. She possessed the amiable trait of recognizing immediately all their good points, and remaining strangely blind to their de fects. In some instances her pliancy amounted to weakness, while in others she was almost obstinate and headstrong. Alice Verle was devoted to her friend, to whom she formed a contrast in every way.

She possessed a more equable temperament, and had a considerable amount of tact, com bined with what people call " common sense," but which in point of fact is far more un common than is generally supposed. Not easily attaching herself, she was firm as a rock when her affections were once gained, and though undemonstrative, she was capable of feeling very strongly. Alice was small and slight, but beautifully proportioned. A quantity of fuzzy brown hair clustered round her head ; her full, grey eyes were almost as handsome as Diana's hazel ones, and her delicately-curved mouth displayed two rows of dazzlingly white teeth. Alice was a staunch patriot, and some very warm discussions occasionally took place be tween the two friends on the respective merits of their different nationalities. Alice greatly incensed her English companion by employ ing the opera glasses to look for England on the map of the world, and incurred deep dis pleasure by reminding her that the British Isles could be completely disposed of in Lake Superior.

It may appear strange to most readers that two young ladies should be living alone in a foreign city without even a maid to offer some sort of chaperonage. I need, however, scarcely mention that in America girls pride themselves greatly on their independent habits, and travel to and from Europe con stantly quite alone. In England, though enjoying, perhaps, less freedom, they are emancipating themselves more every day. Numbers of girls of every nationality throng to Leipzig and other German towns. Living is relatively cheap, and the advantages offered to students of every branch are very great. The fact of their being alone attracts very little attention, and there are numbers of boarding-houses where parents can place their daughters, for in Germany persons of very good social position see nothing derogatory in receiving boarders into their families.

A death having occurred in the family with whom Mr. Barry had found a home for Diana, she and Alice, who had met and formed their friendship there, took two rooms in the house of a widow, who undertook to provide for their material wants. Here they were per fectly free, and could lead a Bohemian sort of existence, which they both found quite in accordance with their tastes. The rooms they occupied may be considered a fair specimen of this kind of abode. They were a combination of bedroom and sitting room, without, however, containing half the necessary appurtenances of either. The furniture consisted of a wooden bedstead concealed by a large green screen, whose sudden collapse in the middle of the night occasionally woke the girls in an agony of terror, a Berlin stove, a few chairs, and a more or less incapacitated table.

On the floor were spread one or two rugs, which had an unhappy knack of rolling themselves up under one's feet, and in the case of ladies attaching themselves to the trains of their dresses in a manner not calculated to improve either the said dresses or the aspect of the room. On the wall were suspended some patriotic prints, and a couple of mirrors with gilt frames, swathed in yellow tarlatan. It being winter at the time we are speaking of, the windows were doubled, as is usually the case in Germany. In spite of the greater cold in that country, the temperature of the rooms was much more equal than that of our English houses, where one sits with one's feet in the fire-place without succeeding in warming more than one shoulder at a time. The English open fire-place looks very cheery, but it has the disadvantage of supplying a larger share of warmth to the chimney than to the room for which it is destined.

The white Berlin stove is a cold, unsympathetic looking object, but its repelling appearance is compensated for by the amount of heat it impartially dispenses. In spite of the somewhat uncompromising description of the apartment, it was not entirely devoid of comfort, and boasted at least of being very lofty and commodious. The large grand piano, which always remained open, a few books, flowers, and other feminine appendices took off much of the nudeness. The Franz Berger already mentioned was a young German belonging to one of the first families of the town. He had met the two girls at the house of an American lady, a mutual friend, one of the few families they visited. Diana made no effort to cultivate the society of the Germans, asserting her con viction that it must be very dull, and adding, moreover, that she had no time to waste in paying visits.

Leipzig, however, rejoices in a very intellectual society, if not an aristo cratic one. It consists principally of the families of professors, artists, and commercial men, and the tone of conversation is con siderably higher than is frequently found in more elevated social circles.

Chapter II

But to return to the interrupted conversation. Alice seemed unwilling to drop the subject of Franz's visits. As Diana, perched on the wide window-ledge, began to occupy herself with what she had ceased to consider an in appropriate Sunday morning employment, the repairing of some article of dress often sadly in want of the operation, Alice hazarded another remark — " I suppose Franz will call to-day ? " " Sunday never has passed since we have had the privilege of knowing him without his swooping down upon us at some incon venient hour." Alice laughed. " Do you recollect his first formal visit, Diana ? " " Indeed I do. And our astonishment to see him appear resplendent in full evening dress at twelve o'clock in the morning. We were then unused to foreign habits, and it struck us as being most eccentric.

Our own attire was, I recollect, simple to a degree, and the picturesque aspect of our rooms must have impressed Franz most agree ably." Frau Lechla had dismissed, or been dismissed, by her long-suffering Dienst-madchen, and did not suppose her boarders were likely to receive so distinguished a visitor at that hour ; therefore on the occasion referred to, Franz Berger had surprised them before the primitive disorder of their apartment had been corrected. " Still, Di, in those days," continued Alice, "you seemed glad to see him." " So I am now. He is quite nice ; and although he wears a dress coat on all except the appropriate occasions, he does not other wise indulge in the eccentricities of costume so prevalent here. That is really a quality. I hate to see a man badly dressed." " He certainly has not that defect ; but he has also many good points which you appear to ignore entirely, dear !

" " Don't think me horrid, Alice. Franz is very good, but you must not try to persuade me to fall in love with him, or to believe him capable of falling in love with me. If you do, I shall at once take a dislike to him." " Do you always dislike people who love you ? " asked Alice. " Men," said Di, unhesitatingly. " It will be different when you love one." " Probably," was the sententious reply. Presently Alice started up, exclaiming — " Di ! it is half-past ten ; if we do not hurry we shall be too late to get places for the opera to-night ; and we must hear the new baritone ! " Di slid down from her elevated position, and languidly commenced the operation of dressing. " I do not suppose he is worth the trouble," she said, " not to mention the eight marks we must pay for the seats." Shortly afterwards they were hurrying to the theatre, to take their stand amongst those who were waiting to have their wants at the box office supplied.

For the benefit of those who are not ac quainted with Leipzig, I will add that the theatre is a handsome building, nearly as large as our Drury Lane, situated in a large open space, forming part of the Promenade extending round the old part of the city. A cafe and restaurant are attached to it, and at the back a wide terrace looks on to an artificial lake. Sloping paths, shaded by large trees, lead down to the lake, the whole forming by far the prettiest spot in Leipzig. Diana and Alice had, as has already been ascertained, become sufficiently reconciled to foreign habits, to have no scruples about going to the opera and concerts on Sunday. All who adhere to strict principles on that point lose many of the best performances, as they are frequently announced for the day in question. The desired tickets obtained, not without some difficulty, and the customary "constitutional" round the Promenade — Leipzig's Hyde Park — accomplished, dinner, which there takes place at one o'clock, was then disposed of.

The meal, in this case, could scarcely be dignified by so imposing a title, the fare being simple to an unpleasant degree. Alice and Diana spoke of it as "having something to eat," but never ad mitted they were provided with a " dinner," except on the rare occasions when they were invited out, or, joining some of their com panions, indulged in a repast at a restaurant. These carousals were reserved for birthdays, and Bustags or fast-days, when they con sidered that having fasted while the other inhabitants had been feasting, they might on the regulation fast-days reverse the general order of things. After the so-called dinner, the old place on the wide window-ledge was returned to, and the needlework, which after a week of assiduous practising was regarded as a re creation, was resumed. Alice was reading aloud, until interrupted by Herr Berger being announced.

After saying he was an nounced, I must hasten to explain that no such ceremony really did take place. A German servant attached to the class of house of which we are writing would not be likely to give herself any superfluous trouble ONL Y A SINGER. 17 by the performance of this and similar acts of formality. Visitors are, for the most part, simply requested to " go in." There fore, Herr Berger knocked at the door and entered. Franz was a tall, slim young man, of the Saxon type, but only as regards features, for the Saxons are generally short and thick-set. His fair, or as Di called it, straw-coloured hair, and pale blue eyes, gave him rather an insipid appearance, but his countenance otherwise possessed marks of character, and he was undeniably good-looking. There was a look about the mouth, which led to the belief Franz Berger could be, if not a violent, a stealthy and sure foe.

He had a slightly bashful manner, and was not particularly brilliant in his conversation, but an occasional shrewd observation proved that he was not devoid of brains. In Diana's society he appeared to disadvantage, as he was undoubtedly more in love with her than she would admit to herself or her friend, and he was not one of those men who shine brightest when endeavouring to please and interest the woman they care for. On his c appearance Di held out her hand without moving from her seat, and Alice begged him to sit down. The conversation was carried on in German, Herr Berger's knowledge of English being limited. After a few remarks on that inex haustible topic, the weather, and the relation by Franz of one or two of the anecdotes about his relations with which the young man generally eked out the conversation, he turned to Di and said, rather abruptly — " My father would like to make your acquaintance."

Di changed colour slightly, but replied without embarrassment — " How very kind." " Do not be ironical," he said ; " my father naturally wishes to know those I — in whom I take so deep an interest. Besides, Diana, it really does seem odd you should always refuse to make any acquaintances." " I hate what you call society. Your friends would think me very odd, and I should probably think them dull. While I do not run after them I need not study their opinion. Besides, I came here to work. Am I not right, Alice ? " " You certainly have the right, if you wish it, to avoid having a number of acquaintances; but you are wrong to condemn this society as a combination of all that is narrow-minded, censorious, and wearisome, as you often do. As to your odd ways, as you call them, in spite of your independent notions I do not think your happiness in life depends upon your being allowed to visit the Cafe Royale, or taking tete-a-tete walks with a gentleman you are not engaged to — a sufficiently serious offence here."

" We will not go beyond the first half of your speech. I am satisfactorily answered when I hear I may do as I please. And now both of you talk of something else. We are going to the opera, and must not indispose ourselves by quarrelling beforehand. You will be there, I suppose?" turning to Franz. " If you are going." Herr Berger then relapsed into silence, and shortly after took his leave. The opera commences at half-past six o'clock in Leipzig, and fashion neither com pels nor permits people to saunter in, much to the discomfort of those already seated, during the whole of the first act, a piece of barbarity confined to England. Therefore Alice and Diana were seated at the beginning of the performance. They were tastefully dressed in a kind of demi-toilette, which, simple as it was, more than met the exigen cies of such occasions in Germauy, and attracted some attention.

A large audience had assembled to witness the debut of Herr Eugen Leutner, of whom report spoke in rapturous terms. The opera given was Wagner's Flying Dutchman, a favourite work in the repertoire of the Leipzig Theatre. Herr Leutner, in the part of " Der Hollander," had not only a trying role to act and sing, but a fastidious audience to please, the Leipzig public being one of the most musical in Europe. The characteristic overture was over, and had been performed with all the spirit and enthusiasm of which the magnificent orchestra was capable. The curtain rose. The appearance of the new baritone, majestic and well-suited to the part, was sufficient to impress the public in his favour, but German audiences do not allow themselves to be carried away by appearances, and his first important air — if the long scene in which the Hollander describes his unhappy fate can be described as an air — was awaited with anxiety.

Its conclusion would have been the signal for loud and hearty applause had Wagner, in constructing his opera, provided pauses for that purpose. In contradistinction to the Italian composers, he carefully avoids these disagreeable breaks in the performance. The audience, therefore, reserved their plaudits until the end of the act, and contented them selves with exchanging the nods of approval so significant amongst musical people, and drawing long breaths of satisfaction at the conclusion of Van der Decken's aria. Alice glanced at Diana, and was surprised to see that her eyes were fixed on the stage, her face betraying intense emotion, while she was apparently unconscious of all beyond what passed there. The first note uttered by the singer had left her spell-bound, and to her friend's observations she could only ONI Y A SINGER. return the vaguest answers, even when she replied at all.

Diana was an enthusiastic lover of music, but had never before been so deeply moved. Beyond the influence of the sounds she heard, there was something in the mere presence of this man which stirred every fibre in her nature. What is this mysterious influence exercised by one person over another, the electric thrill running through the frame when brought into contact with certain individuals ? Love at first sight is continually scoffed at, yet who can deny that he has not at some moment of his life met with a person for whom he has immediately conceived an in surmountable antipathy, or others who have inspired him with deep sympathy ? Why, then, should an extremely sensitive nature be incapable of feeling stirred to the degree known as " love at first sight ? " For several seconds after the curtain fell, and while the house resounded with applause, Diana sat motionless, without moving her eyes from the stage.

Her dream was disturbed by the appearance of Franz, who came to accompany the young ladies to the Foyer. How infinitely preferable to the English custom, which condemns the female portion of the public to remain more or less densely packed during the whole of the evening, is the foreign fashion, permitting them to leave their seats, and providing them with an elegant Foyer to stroll round between the acts. " Leutner has a fine voice," observed Franz. " Superb," answered Alice ; " and what an admirable actor ! Don't you think so, Di ? " " The music is wonderful," was the some what irrelevant reply. Very little attention or conversation was to be extracted from her during the entr'acte ; she who was generally full of telling and satirical observations, on the merits or demerits of what they had heard, now appeared listless and absent-minded until the bell rang to announce the second act.

" Come, Alice," she then said, " we must not lose a note of this." Leutner's success augmented with each act. From all sides were heard the exclama tions, to which in such cases our Teutonic relatives give unlimited vent. " Wunder volls " Herrliche stimme," " Singt vortreff lich," and so on. Diana did not join the noisy demonstrations, in which even the less impulsive Alice could not refrain from taking part, but the silent tears in her eyes were a still higher tribute to the artist's genius. Soon after the beginning of the final scene she whispered — " I feel ill, let us go." Diana Barry was usually so innocent of any such feminine weaknesses as hysterics, fainting, etc., that her friend, on turning to her, was genuinely alarmed to perceive that her face was overspread with a deadly pallor, aud that on rising she with difficulty avoided falling.

Franz quickly came to them, and once out of the theatre, Diana soon recovered. " I am sorry I made a scene," she said ; " it is so unlike me, but the house was intolerably warm." Having reached their abode, and having said good-night to Franz, the girls repaired to Diana's room, where, before retiring to rest behiud their green screens, they usually indulged in the exchange of confidences so indispensable to the fair, or may we not sometimes say, the unfair sex. Di threw herself into her rocking-chair, aud taking Alice's hand, said — " I am not in the habit of making senti mental speeches, Ally, or experiencing sentimental emotions, but I feel to-night as though I had met my fate. That man had a most extraordinary effect upon me. I felt literally enthralled. It is ridiculous, childish ; I must be out of health, or I could not be guilty of such weakness."

After a pause, she asked — " When does he sing again ? " " If he moves you so much I shall not allow you to go to hear him." " I shall go to prove to myself that he cannot do so a second time ; I was over tired, probably, and unwell. Such things must always be attributed to some physical cause." After they parted for the night, Alice, through the open door late into the night, could hear her tossing about and uttering incoherent sentences. In the morning the indisposition and ex citement of the previous evening had apparently disappeared, and at breakfast, Di seemed her old bright self again. " China is innocent of the production of these leaves, I am quite convinced," she observed at breakfast, peering into the teapot. " Frau Lechla probably made an early morning expedition to the Rosenthal for them.

I have often noticed a similar odour there." The fare provided them was a source of considerable amusement, if also the sub ject of occasional stormy encounters with the landlady, who carried out an elaborate system of economy at the expense of her boarders. At nine o'clock Diana had a lesson at the Conservatoire, and Alice, who, though osten sibly in Europe for the purpose of studying, passed the greater part of her time with Diana, prepared to accompany her.

Chapter III

The Conservatoire of Music at Leipzig is not the imposing edifice as regards architectural beauty one would expect to see, considering the renown of that institution. Mendelssohn and the other musicians interested in its foundation were less preoccupied by the outward appearance of the building than the quality of the instruction to be imparted within its walls. Situated in the centre of the old town, its appearance resembles rather that of the back of a warehouse than of the facade of a public building. The interior is equally innocent of superfluous embellishment, and the rooms where the classes are held are destitute of carpet and all furniture except grand pianos and a few rickety chairs and benches. The class was assembled when Diana arrived, and while awaiting the appearance of their not too punctual professor, the girls were eagerly talking about the performance of the preceding evening.

" He is very handsome," said one. " I saw him in Dresden without his beard, and thought him twice as good looking," said another. "What a pity the ' Fliegender Hollander' cannot be represented without a beard," added a third. " No matter ; he plays in Don Juan on Wednesday, then the objectionable feature will not be required. But you are discussing his least important attribute ; is he not a grand singer ? " " They say he is invited to the next students' concert, and you are to play, Fraii lein Barry," interposed one of the speakers. Diana, who had been silently and impa tiently listening to this conversation, started at this intelligence and replied, hastily — " It is impossible." At this moment the professor, a lean man with a shock head of hair and the inevitable pince nez perched on his nose, entered the room, and the exercises in harmony and counterpoint were submitted to him.

One young lady's book was hurled to the other end of the apartment by the irate pro fessor, and others were received with a tor rent of scornful remarks. Diana, who was neither very successful, nor very deeply impressed by this profound study, did not escape. " Miss Barry, you seem to consider the beauty of your composition depends on the number of consecutive octaves and fifths introduced." " I beg your pardon, it was very careless of me," she answered, colouring. Then while watching the corrections made in her exercise, she asked — " Will you kindly tell me whether I am on the list of performers for next Friday even ing?" " I believe so. The director suggested an Adagios and Finale of Spohr's which he heard you play a short time ago." " I am quite unprepared," she answered, looking distressed.