Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

having seen us established, said, looking at me

with a confiding smile

"I am

sure Monsieur will take care of

you!" and quitted the box, leaving us together.

CHAPTER XX.

"So may we mark the magic power of song

Spread like enchantment through a mighty throng
whose aims and passions,-thoughts,—desires-
Have nought in common."

Of men,

VANDYK.

THE house was as yet but scantily filled, the dress circle almost empty; Aline and I looked forth and surveyed the scene at leisure. It was long since I had been at the Opera, and it made me melancholy, as is generally the case on such occasions, to think of all that has occurred since last we viewed the long neglected

scene. But my readers will doubtless feel more interested in Aline's sensations under similar circumstances than in the old man's, and will wonder, if the remembrance of her first and last visit and all that had since occurred, did not awaken very thrilling feelings in her breast. But no-the past did not appear to have much to do with the emotion she now manifested.

I believe the power of association has but little comparative influence over the minds of the young as with us elder spirits

"The present, the actual, which were they our all
Too heavy our burthen, too hopeless our thrall,"

are, whatever may be the nature and extent of their good and evil, neither too much nor too little for their elastic hearts.

Aline was evidently not dreaming of the past in the excitement of the present time. Her thoughts were with her husband behind the scenes, and though indeed, ever and anon, her

eyes were riveted on a certain box in the dress tier, with a look of painful attention, it was evidently anticipation, more than past recollections, which nervously attracted them to the spot.

[blocks in formation]

The overture commenced, and then soon after came pouring in the rich, the noble, the beautiful of the land, quickly changing the aspect of the vast theatre, as the fast gathering stars of night light up the firmament of heaven, only a change more dazzling, more bewildering, more tiring to the eye, attracted hither and thither by each successive alluring apparition.

What soft and delicate loveliness, what sparkling beauty- what noble grace — what bloom of youth-what brilliancy of maturer years appeared before the sight! A scene of magic fascination, was it indeed to my unaccustomed view.

"In truth, lady! this is a costly treat that

you have procured me!" I could not refrain from whispering to my fair companion.

She noticed my observation by an absent smile. Her eyes carelessly scanned the circles, and then again her glass turned upon that particular point of interest. Mine followed it, but in the same moment that it did so, her's was abruptly lowered, and she glanced quickly and suspiciously towards me, as if to learn whether I had understood the cause of her emotion; then, having for a few seconds sat pale and immoveable, as if suffering from some sudden shock, sunk back behind the curtain, in the folds of which she hid her face from my view.

I then took occasion to examine into the cause of this agitation, and could not but conclude, that yonder woman of proud and patrician beauty, whom I beheld with the lovely young girl, by whom she was accompanied—as was really the case, stood in very near relationship to the poor Aline, and I could not wonder that the sight of those, amongst whom she had once doubt

« ZurückWeiter »