The C Minor, and the Vicar of Ristock. Two stories. By E. D. N

Front matter

THE C. MINOK, AND THE VICAR OF RISTOCK. TWO STORIES. BY E. D. N. Æ.g.l. LONDON : NEWMAN AND CO., 43, HART STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C. 1880. " When a player sits doAvn to the piano, and before commencing his piece, plays a feAV bars as prelude ; it is not necessary that these preluding bars should foretell Avhat piece is to follow. Therefore, I can but commend my C Minor to its hearers, begging them to judge not too harshly, nor to turn away in disappointment, if its harmonies please them not. I Avould have them also remember, that into every life-sonata creeps much of minor, and sometimes, even much that is discordant." CHARTER I. " A brave old house ! a garden full of bees, Large dropping poppies and queen hollyhocks, AVith butterflies for crowns, tree peonies, And pinks, and goldelocks." Jean Ingelow.

Margaret Harcourt stood at the drawing room windoAV, and looked out upon all the ripened summer beauty, but unheedingly, as though she did not see it ; then, turning aAvay from it, she spoke. " Mother, I have been thinking and thinking, and I ahvays come to the same con clusion. I cannot stay at home and do nothing ; so if you ancl my father do not object, I have made up my mind to go to Orchester, to give singing lessons there." Mrs. Harcourt looked up from her work in astonishment, that was at first too great to find expression in words ; and AA'hen she was able to speak, she could only ex claim : " My dear child, what do you mean ?" " I knoAV it must seem very sudden to you," said her daughter, " but it would be simply ridiculous for Amy and me both to live at home in idleness. I'm quite sure that I should succeed at Orchester.

I've thought about everything, and there's nothing to be done but just to begin ; ' it's the first step that costs,' as the French say, and when I'm once settled, it will be my own fault if I don't get on well." Now Mrs. Harcourt completely recovered her voice. "You do not understand what you are talking about, Margaret !" she said ; " you cannot have thought about it seriously. Why, you would be obliged to live aAva}r from home, amongst strangers, child ; you would have to undergo all kinds of mortification as a teacher ; and last, but not least, you would be throAvn amongst a class of people that Avould not be suitable society for you to mix in. No, Margaret, you must give it up ; I cannot alloAv it." " I kneAV you Avould say all that, mother," said Margaret, hopefully; "but I think I can ansAver your objections, because I've already gone over them in my OAvn mind more times than I can count ; now do put your work doAvn, and listen to me !"

Chapter II

" Genteel? Oh yes ; gives lessons : not so good As any man's would be, but cheaper far. Pretty 1 No ; yet she makes a figure fit For good society." George Eliot. On a bright autumn afternoon, some weeks after the day on Avhich Margaret Harcourt had announced her intention of going to Orchester, two gentlemen, sonie\A*hat foreign in appearance, were sitting in the dining-room of the German club in that town. Dinner being over, they were smoking and talking, or, perhaps, chatting wrould be a more cor rect expression to use when describing the desultory chit-chat about people and things that is carried on between intimate friends who are in the habit of dining together. One of these gentlemen is already known to us by name — Mr. Siegmann, Margaret Harcourt's music-master and friend — we can see him as he sits there, a pleasant-looking man of about eight-and-thirty years of age, with nothing particular in face or figure to dis tinguish him.

Not so, however, with his companion ; al though many denied that he was even good looking, there were many more Avho acknowledged the strangely fascinating beauty of his face ; but one and all agreed in describing him as altogether different from other men ; he was just himself, Carl Beringer. He looked much younger than his friend, but, in truth, their ages were almost the same. Together they had studied as youths at the Leipzig Conservatoire ; together they had joined a celebrated Dresden orchestra, and finally they left Germany, tempted by the offer of the first London conductor. Since then they have lived in England, spending the winter in Orchester (being two of the principals in the first-rate orchestra there), and the season in London. Mr. Siegmann occupied his leisure time in giving violin and accompaniment lessons, but Carl Beringer scorned the idea of teaching.

He was often heard to say that he had not the requisite patience, and, also, that in his case it was not necessary, having no wife and family to provide for ; he made more than enough for his OAvn comfort, or even luxury, for he was a Avell-knoAvn member of the musical profession, ancl his brilliant talent secured him a high position as a violinist. There were some of his friends who hinted that it might have been better for him had he employed his spare hours in teaching ; but he Avas a man avIio made friends where ever he went ; and, happily, a native refine ment kept him safe where others had fallen. Why it is that men are sometimes so much more difficult to describe than women, it is impossible to say ; but in this case no attempt at description will be made, and Carl Beringer must be left to introduce himself.

The dining-room at the Goethe Club Avas now almost deserted; the Avaiter had removed the plates and glasses of the latest comer, ancl wondered vaguely why our tAvo friends did not adjourn to the billiard-room. There had been silence for some time between them, but as it was not part of Carl Berino-er's nature to remain silent for very long, he pre sently exclaimed : " Why do you not talk to-day, Siegmann ? You have not said a dozen Avords in the last ten minutes. You have become so quiet all at once that I begin to fear you are ill !" His friend, thus accosted, laughed ; and taking his cigar from his mouth, and earnestly contemplating it, as though expecting to de rive inspiration from it, said : " I Avas just thinking of a young lady Avho is to come to Orchester to-day." " That's a nice confession to hear from a married man," rejoined the other.

" I wonder what Mrs. Siegmann would say if she over heard you !" " Mrs. Siegmann is very likely thinking and speaking too — if she has anyone to speak to — of the same young lady. We are going together to see her to-night." " Who is she ? some relation of yours ?" inquired Beringer, carelessly. " No — but you must have heard me speak of the Harcourts ? — the}7 live in the country, at that pretty place near Aldford. Well, it is Miss Harcourt, and she is a very nice girl." Here there ensued a short pause. Carl Beringer was not interested ; he had not much to do with young ladies, and did not appear to Avish to increase his acquaintance in that direction. Perhaps amongst those he had met there were some whose behaviour had not tended to increase his respect for them in general ; for some had paid court to him because of an imaginary devotion to music, and because (it must be confessed) of his interesting face, and some had avoided him, and considered him beneath their notice as a professional !

So it happened that he did not feel deeply interested in the subject of Miss Harcourt's arrival in Orchester, and Avas mentally deciding that his friend was becoming both stupid and absent-minded, Avhen Mr. Siegmann suddenly resumed : " They've lost nearly all their money lately, I belieA-e ; it AA-as through a bank failing, or something of that kind, and that is Avhy Miss Harcourt is coming to live here — she is going to teach singing." This time Beringer shoAved a shade more interest, and ansAvered : " That sounds rather better ; I bate rich people !" Mr. Siegmann laughed : " She isn't rich now, poor girl ! I Avish she was. But seriously noAv, Beringer, I want you to help her." " It seems to me," said the other, " that I'm about the last man in Orchester to appeal to. I don't mix in general society like you do.

Why, Siegmann, you knoAv far more people than I do, and could get her any number of pupils, I should think !" " I mean to get her as many as I can, but they don't come unsought to an unknown mistress. But come noAv, you are a good hearted fellow after all ; you will help her ?" Beringer looked at his friend in no small astonishment ; this Avas passing the limits of a joke, and he asked, gravely : " Is she pretty ?" Noav Mr. Siegmann did not like this question ; when he had been abstracted and silent, he had been Avondering whether or not it would be advisable to take Carl Beringer into his confidence, and enlist his sympathies in Margaret Harcourt's cause. He knew that his friend's mode of life might not be entirely approved of by Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt, but at the same time he knew him to be trust worthy and honourable, and so he had resolved to speak to him.

This question, however, seemed to annoy him, for with a gesture of impatience he answered : "No! I am quite sure you would not think her pretty ; but she is a very nice girl, and a thorough lady." Beringer laughed lightly. " All that won't do much for her if she is not a musician ; a pretty face, no doubt, Avould have helped her on, but that kind of thing won't count for much." Then Mr. Siegmann turned on his com panion in great indignation : "And do you think that I would ever recommend anyone as a teacher, but one whom I knew to be a good musician ? Miss Harcourt could not have receiA'ed a better musical education, had she intended from the first to make music her profession. She has had lessons from the best London masters, she has studied at Leipzig for a year ; ancl since she has been at home, she has had accompaniment lessons Avith me, and lessons in singing and composition with Mr. Roberts."

" Oh ! well, that will do then. Will she sing in public at all ?" "I hardly think her voice is strong enough; she might play in public any day, but she has not said one word of such a thing to me. I have not seen her since all this happened, I have only had letters from her, and she only speaks of giving lessons." " Have you got any pupils for her ?" " Yes, I have got two, and Mr. Roberts has got one for her. Now ! what are you going to do ?" " I don't know," said Beringer, doubtfully ; " I should like to hear her sing before I do anything, and then I can judge for myself." " Very well !" returned Mr. Siegmann, eagerly ; " we are going to ask her to come to us to-morrow evening, she Avill feel so lonely at first in her lodgings, poor girl ! so Avill you come also ?" " I'll see — perhaps I will," said the other, and with this they dropped the subject.

Beringer thought no more about Miss Har court, but that evening, when Mr. Siegmann was walking home in the sharp evening air, he began to wonder whether he had acted rightly in asking his friend to meet his old pupil. What would his wife say ? for she, 2—2 from the first, had objected to the idea of introducing them to each other. He decided at last to say nothing about it until the time, and then if Beringer came, they could not refuse him a welcome; and if not, Avhich Avas quite as likely, no one need be told of the rash invitation.

Chapter III

" On dusty pathways of the world The toil and tumult cease ; ' "Wait thou a little longer, and To thee there cometh peace/ A crisp, clear October afternoon; a bright afternoon, when the sunshine warmed you one moment, and the autumn Avind chilled you the next ! The sky shone blue, as though it were a summer's day, but the red and yellow leaves fluttered from the branches Avhere they had waved in their beautiful green pride ; thus summer and autumn seemed to dispute for the supremacy. Ah, well ! it cannot be always summer, and her fairest floAvers must lie low ; fair once, but faded now, and forgotten. The shrill whistle of the Orchester express broke sharply on the country stillness, as the train speeded its way along, on and on, until a cloud of smoke against the western sky betokened the vicinity of a large town ; then Margaret Harcourt leaned forward, and looked out wistfully through the Avindow of the second-class carriage.

She had made the journey before ; once to spend the night with a friend on the occasion of a gay Aveddingparty ; once to be present at the great musical festival that Avas held in Orchester every three years. Ahvays before bent on some errand of pleasure, but now ! " What will it all be like ?" she thought ; " I Avonder hoAv Mr. Siegmann will receive me ! he used to be very kind, but that was Avhen Ave were rich. I wonder if my being poor will make any difference in his behaviour to me. I don't think somehoAV that it Avill ; he is not that kind of man : at all events he wrote very kindly. Well, I suppose I must take things as I find them, and not expect too much, and make the best of everything." Having arrived at this philosophical conclusion, Margaret leaned back in her corner, and wished that she had taken a first-class ticket; she had never travelled in a second-class carriage before, and her head ached, and everything seemed strange and unreal.

Only the October sunshine Avas beautiful, in spite of the smoke of the town. Nay, it even rested on the dingy broAvn smoke, and singeing it Avith gold, gave it a beauty not its OAvn. But Avhy did tears Avell up into the girl's eyes as she again looked out ? She was, perhaps, pic turing to herself a smooth-stretching kwn, on Avhich the sun Avas casting the long sleepy shadows from the tall elm trees; and there at the drawing-room Avindow stood her mother and sister, watching the peaceful autumn glory, with loving thought and earnest prayer for the brave-hearted girl Avho had left all, to take her place amongst the world's Avorkers. Yes, Margaret saAv it all, and deep doAvn in her heart she felt that never again could she return to live the happy, easeful home-life ; before her there might lie a nobler and a higher life, but her girlhood's years had been very bright, and they had passed from her for ever.

" Orchester ! Orchester !" shouted the porters, and Margaret hastily aroused her self and collected her things. Of course there was no one to meet her ; she had not told anyone by Avhich train she intended to travel, and perhaps if she had, no one Avould have come ! So the 'young traveller thought bitterly, as she watched the many joyous meetings that are ahvays to be seen at any of our large raihvay stations. She did not, however, waste any more time in idle regrets, but after seeing that her luggage was safe, she asked a porter to call her a cab, and Avas soon on her way to her lodgings. Mrs. Siegmann had engaged them for her, and being kept by a retired housekeeper of un impeachable respectability, even Mrs. Har court Avas satisfied. Mrs. Siegmann had said that they were not far distant from her house, but otherwise Margaret Avas wholly ignorant as to their situation.

No. 122, Parker Street, that was the address, and she asked herself if any thing could possibly sound more prosaic ancl less interesting ; and then reflected that it was w*hat she herself Avas shortly to become, just one, and perhaps a very insignificant one, out of hundreds. Poor Margaret ! she was tired and home-sick and lonely ; this melan choly mood was very different from the bright hopes in which she had occasionally indulged of success, perhaps even fame, to be gained at a not very distant period. The cab stopped at last before a row of houses, quite as uninteresting as any that Margaret could have imagined. Mrs. Brown, the landlady and retired housekeeper, came out to receive her neAv lodger, with homely yet kindly greetings, and at once conducted the neAV-comer upstairs, to the small and somewhat dingy-looking parlour and bedroom that were to be hers.

" I think, Miss Harcourt, as you are look ing, tired, I had better get you a cup of tea ready now," said Mrs. BroAvn ; and Margaret thanked her, and said it would be very refreshing. Then, Avhen she was left alone, she sat doAvn on one of the shabby chairs, and hiding her face in her hands, gave way to a fit of sobbing Avhich became almost passionate. She could not analyse her feelings ; weari ness and loneliness for the moment proved all too strong for the bright untried spirit' and it seemed to her just then that the Avorld had suddenly closed in upon her, and that for the future, and as far as she Avas concerned, it would be comprised in that dull parlour. Soon, hoAvever, the violence of her grief wore itself out; and hearing Mrs. Brown coming upstairs with the tea, she escaped into the bedroom to bathe her face and arrange her hair.

When she re-entered the sitting-room she was quite calm, only the red rims about her eyes were left to suggest to Mrs. BroAvn that her lodger Avas in trouble of some kind ; so by way of consolation, she said : " You'll be feeling a bit lonesome at first, Miss Harcourt, but you'll soon get accus tomed to the Avays of town life. Mrs. Sieg mann told me you was from the country, so as I thought you'd be hungry too, I've boiled you a fresh-laid egg, and you'd best make a good tea, ma'am." Margaret smiled her thanks, for she dared not attempt to steady her voice for speaking ; so Mrs. BroAvn, seeing that she Avas not in clined for conversation, left her alone, defer ring the many questions she meant to ask, till some more favourable opportunity. When Margaret had finished her tea, which she found herself able to enjoy in spite of melancholy surroundings, and felt rested, she began to feel ashamed of the Aveakness that had for a time overcome her.

" I expect I Avas very tired, and so I took a gloomy view of the Avorld in general, and of this place in particular," she said to herself; and Avhen Mrs. BroAvn came up to remove the tea things, she was ready for a cheerful chat, Avith a smiling face too, much to the inward comfort of that good Avoman, who mentally decided that the young lady Avas regularly " done up " before tea. When she Avas alone again, Margaret began at once to re-arrange the room, that it might, as soon as possible, begin to Avear something of a homelike aspect. She un packed one of her boxes, and spent a very busy, and even a happy hour, in placing to the best advantage all the pretty knick knacks, treasured books, and favourite pictures that had adorned her room at home. . The fire burned cheerily, and the room was looking almost inviting, when there was a knock at the door, and Mr. and Mrs. Siegmann, with their friendly German faces and kindly words of greeting, Avere announced.

It Avas a pretty picture that they saAv on entering the room. Margaret was standing on a chair hanging one of her own framed water-colour sketches ; the firelight glanced on her hair, bringing out its golden gleams, and her soft dark dress hung in graceful folds about her slight figure. She turned as the door opened, and Avith a little cry of delight,. sprang down to Avelcome her A'isitors. " This is indeed kind of you !" she ex claimed, drawing them towards the fire and pulling out the two easy-chairs that the room possessed. " No, Mr. Siegmann !" she said laughing, as he protested ; " you are to be as comfortable to-night as I can make }*ou, for you are the first friends I have seen in my new home, and how good it Avas of you to come !" They closed round the fire, for its cheerful blaze was pleasant on the chilly autumn evening, and then ensued a long conversa tion on business matters relating to pupils and terms and expenses, no doubt interesting enough to our three friends, but less so to those not immediately concerned.

An hour passed quickly away, and the striking of nine o'clock from a neighbouring church-tower caused Mr. and Mrs. Siegmann to start up in some surprise to say " good-night ;" but suddenly Mrs. Siegmann exclaimed, in her pretty broken English : " But we are almost forgetting Avhy it is that we came to-night ! We want you, Miss Harcourt, to come to us to-morrow to take tea, and to spend the evening Avith us. Mr. and Mrs. Moritz are also coming, and I want you to know them. You Avill say yes ?" Margaret hesitated a moment, but her eyes shone Avith pleasure. " Oh ! I should like to come very much indeed, only it seems too nice. Do you think I ought to begin to enjoy myself so soon I " Enjoy yourself while you can," said Mr. Siegmann, very kindly; "and if it will give you any pleasure to join us to-morrow, why, then you must certainly come 1" " It will give me a great deal of pleasure; many, many thanks !" said Margaret, warmly.

She went doAvnstairs with them, and after exchanging hearty good-nights at the door, she still stood there to Avatch them walk down the street ; and she felt lonely no longer, when after seeing them turn the corner, Avaving their hands as they did so in the light of a gas lamp, she went upstairs again to her parlour. Already it began to wear a more homelike aspect, for she had received in it two kind friends ; they had sat in the easy-chairs, they had warrned themselves at the blazing* fire, and warmed Margaret's heart O 7 o with their friendly words of Avelcome. She recommenced her pleasant Avork of arranging her things with a lightened heart ; and when at last she went to bed, it Avas AA'ith the SAveet calm of content that she laid her Aveary head on the pillow, and with loving thought of the dear ones at home, she soon fell into peaceful, childlike sleep. The first step had been taken, ancl tbe neAv life had begun.

Chapter IV

" If one could have that little head of hers Painted upon a background of pure gold, Such as the Tuscan's early art prefers." Browning. There was a pleasant little party assembled at the Siegmanns' house on the next evening. Mr. and Mrs. Moritz, Mr. Roberts and Margaret Harcourt, were the guests ; and so kindly did all give the right hand of fellow ship to the neAV-comer, that she soon felt her self one of them. As they sat round the tea-table, well covered in true German fashion, Mr. Siegmann kept directing furtive, apprehensive glances towards the door ; for, as the day Avore on, more and more strongly did he feel that he had been to blame in giving that hasty invi tation. Carl Beringer Avas generally a very welcome guest, but then Mrs. Siegmann had expressly stated to her husband, that in her opinion it Avould be undesirable to introduce him to Miss Harcourt.

Thus, when tea Avas almost over, and he had not yet made his appearance, Mr. Siegmann breathed more freely, and for once did not feel annoyed Avith his friend for his uncertain move ments, which had so frequently been a source of much vexation to Mrs. Sieg mann. But after tea, when they had returned to the drawing-room, and much pleasant chat was going on, a loud ring was heard, which occasioned Mr. Siegmann to break off in the middle of a sentence, and to move uneasily on his chair (surely the good man stood in needless awe of his little broAvn-eyed wife !) ; and Avhen Carl Beringer Avalked into the room with his wonted cool, easy bearing, Mr. Siegmann's feelings Avere those of deep gratitude towards Mr. Roberts for saying, as was only natural he should : " Why, Beringer, I didn't knoAV we were to have the pleasure of meeting you here to-night ;" and then Mr. and Mrs. Moritz Avelcomed him Avith such sin cere pleasure that Mrs. Siegmann could not but be gracious also ; nay, she herself Avas obliged to introduce him to Margaret, who was sitting by her, and thus it was that when Mr. Beringer paused, and directed an inquiring glance toAvards Margaret, Mrs. Siegmann, with great dignity for so small a lady, went through the introduction " Mr. Beringer — Miss Harcourt," AA'hile the others prepared themselves to listen to the new per former with no little curiosity.

Margaret took her seat at the piano, and turned over the pages of the yelloAv-backed Litollf edition with a loving, lingering air ; then suddenly stopping and looking up, she exclaimed : " I hope I shall play well enough ! I will do my best, but the thought of playing it was so delightful that I quite forgot what a great player you are." But as Beringer only laughed and shook his head, they began. Can you not hear it now — the wonderful C minor sonata ? You can hear the opening grand chord from the piano, then comes the rapid descent into the bass, and now the violin takes up the refrain,. which is tossed about from piano to violin until it is almost lost in the excited frenzy that breaks forth before the grand close is reached. This Avas what our two friends played on that October night, and after the first movement they paused for a moment's rest.

And Carl Beringer, looking down on Margaret with a bright, flashing smile peculiar to himself, said : " Shall I say that you play like a profes sional ? I mean it for a compliment." " You are too kind," answered Margaret. " But," continued he, " did not Siegmann tell me that you intended to give singing lessons ? Do you sing as w*ell as you P% ?" " I don't knoAV," said Margaret, smiling. " I understand thoroughly how to sing, but I have never practised singing as much as the piano ; hoAvever, Mr. Siegmann says that I shall succeed better as a singing mistress than a music mistress." " I agree AA'ith him ; you will sing for us afterwards ?" " Yes, if you like ; but noAv shall Ave go on I And then they commenced the Adao-io. that loveliest of slow movements that all musicians knoAV, and knowing, love ; for when did it fail to breathe peace, or to pour balm on a wounded spirit ?

There Avas no Avildness, no unrest now, but perfect calm throughout. To Margaret it seemed that a sweet spirit-voice was singing to her amidst the music-sound — not the piano, not the violin, and yet it mingled with them both. It was almost too much for her to bear, and v/heii she had played the closing notes she sat silent, struggling to force back the tears that rose unbidden to her eyes. She did not wish her companion to see this momentary Aveakness ; hoAv could he, a stranger, under stand her feelings ? Nevertheless, he could not help seeing, but with fine tact, so placed himself that none of the others could see her, as he carelessly turned over some loose music. Margaret appreciated his kindness; it helped to restore her composure. And Avhen she said, " I'm ready to play again," they Avent lightly off into the tripping scherzo, followed by the complicated canon, and then back again to the merry scherzo ; a moment's pause, and they dashed into the hurried 3—2 finale, on and on, until the last notes were sounded, and all voices joined in praising the young pianist.

Margaret coloured deeply with pleasure ; it was a way she had, and was one of her chief charms. " If you continue to improve as you have done lately," remarked Mr Siegmann, " you must play in public next ; 3-011 Avouldn't be frightened ?" " I don't think I should, if I felt quite sure of my part," Avas her answer. " I wish," exclaimed Carl Beringer, aa*1io Avas still standing by her, " that you Avould have me for a pupil." " HaA^e you !" said Margaret in great astomishment ; " what can you mean ?" " You see, I have no one to play with, and it Avould be a great convenience to me if I might play pieces over with you, just as Siegmann used to accompany you on the violin ; so won't you arrange to give me one hour a Aveek ?" " It Avould be splendid ! I should enjoy it beyond everything ! But are you really quite sure that you would like it ?"