'I don't wish, my boy. Why should I do anything to spoil Lily's enjoyment? and it would spoil her enjoyment if she noticed that considered me an encumyou brance.' 'Of course it's me,' exclaimed Alfred pettishly; I thought I had had enough lecturing. I won't stand it much longer, and so I tell you, grandfather.' 'Don't let us quarrel, Alfred; Lily will be back presently, and we must do everything in our power to avoid giving her pain. I am glad that you are going to take her out. Can you afford it?' 'Afford it! I should think I could!' And Alfred rattled the money in his pocket. Old Wheels sighed. 'Your wages at the office are still the same, Alfred-fifteen shillings a week ?' brother and sister were in the streets, arm in arm. The old man watched them from the window until they were out of sight. 'I am glad my darling has gone to enjoy herself,' he thought, but he could not keep back an uneasy feeling because she was away from him. He accounted for it by saying that old age was selfish ; but that reflection brought no consolation to him. The room had never looked so dreary as now, and he was in such a discontented mood that he could neither work nor read. He went to the street-door and stood there, and felt more than ordinarily pleased as he saw Felix turn the corner of the street. 'I have come on purpose to tell you something,' said Felix, as they shook hands; 'you know that I am looking out for something to do.' 'Yes, Felix.' 'Brought up to no trade or profession,' continued Felix, 'the matter is difficult enough. I can't go to work as a shoemaker, or a carpenter, or a bricklayer, because I am Jack-of-no-trade, and don't know anything. I am neither this nor that, nor anything else. But last night there was a great fire not very far from here 'I read of it in the papers this morning.' 'It occurred, as you know then, after midnight. I was there at the commencement of it, and saw it— saw the children and the mother standing in their night-dresses at the third-floor window-saw the flames surrounding them and creeping to them like fiery serpentssaw that brave fireman, God bless him! scale the ladder and rescue the poor things, nearly losing his life in the effort-spoke to him, shook hands with him, hurriedly got some particulars from him and the poor woman, and then 'Yes, and then,' said old Wheels, sharing Felix's excitement. 'Then went to the newspaperoffice with an account of the fire, which they inserted. What you read this morning was mine, and I feel quite proud of it. It is the first bit of real work that I have ever done.' 'It is beautifully written,' exclaimed old Wheels. 'Bravo, Felix!' "That's what I said to myself, "Bravo, Felix!" Why should not this lead to other things? And I am so elated that I came to ask you if you would come with me into the country for a few hours, somewhere close enough to this city of wonders to enable us to get back in the evening. It is a lovely day, and perhaps Lily will accompany you.' Lily is not at home,' said the old man thoughtfully, noticing the colour in Felix's face; she has gone out with Alfred on just such a trip as you so kindly propose. She wanted me to come, but I have business at home and could not, 'Yes.' so I cannot accompany you. If you are not fixed upon any place, why not go yourself to Hampton Court, where they have gone? You may meet them; I am sure Lily will be pleased to see you.' Old Wheels smiled to himself as he turned into the house, and sat down contentedly to his work-a cart which he was making for Pollypod. I feel easier now,' he said, as he worked. 'I should like it above all things in the world,' said Felix eagerly; 'have they gone by themselves?' But although Felix went down at once to Hampton Court, and strolled into the palace and the picturestood above the maze to see who gallery and over the gardens, and were in it, he saw no signs of Lily couple of hours, and then he reor Alfred. This occupied him a ought to have gone there at first,' solved to go into Bushey Park. 'I beautiful grounds, and down the he thought. He strolled into the grand avenue with its lines of noble chestnut-trees. In the distance he saw a lady on a seat, and a gentlequickened by love, recognised Lily's man standing by her. His sight, form; but the man was not Alfred. He approached slowly, until he was clearly, and a keen pang shot near enough to distinguish more through him as he saw Lily sitting Sheldrake bending over her. Alfred on the garden-seat, and Mr. David was not in sight. MUSICAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LAST HALF CHAPTER XVII. 1850-52. CENTURY. BRILLIANT, from an artistic point of view, as had been the Royal Italian Opera season of 1849, as a financial speculation it had turned out most disastrous. To the public this catastrophe seemed to be inexplicable. The performances had not only been well attended, but on certain occasions, when any opera of more than ordinary popularity was represented, the theatre was crowded from floor to ceiling. When, therefore, the work, admirably done as usual, came to an end, and the report that had previously been whispered became confirmed, that the entrepreneur was hopelessly ruined, the conclusion immediately jumped to was adverse to any renewal of rivalry between the two establishments in the following year. Mr. Delafield, a junior partner in the firm of Combe and Co., the well-known brewers of Long-acre, had ventured upon operatic management, of which he was utterly ignorant, and the result was bankruptcy of the most disastrous character. How and why this happened it is no part of my province to relate. Many causes were assigned for so sudden and ruinous a collapse, not the least probable of which was that the expenditure within the theatre for mounting such new operas as were brought out had been so extravagant, that neither a goodly number of subscribers nor the support of the public could stand against it. To all intents and purposes no ex pense seemed to have been spared in this direction; but although the result was good for the progress of art, it was by no means equally so for the manager; who, although a business man, showed so little capability for his task, that, amongst those who knew him best, it was a matter of surprise that his losses, heavy as they were, had not been even more extensive. As the Covent Garden venture had never been forgiven by the old patrons and habitués of Her Majesty's Theatre, and Mr. Lumley was not a person to succumb whilst a shred of support from this quarter remained to him, the note of rejoicing at the disastrous issue of the season of 1849 was both loud and resonant. Mr. Lumley asserts that 'overtures were' even 'made to him on the part of the gentlemen connected with the rival enterprise to merge both operas in one, and that advantageous terms were offered to him to retire from the management of Her Majesty's Theatre, in order to facilitate this design." He had, however, a vaster enterprise in viewno less than to obtain the concession to himself of the Italian Opera in Paris, then in the hands of Ronconi, and to combine in his own grasp the two great speculations. At all events the general impression prevailed, with more or less of disappointment and sorrow on the one hand, and of congratulation and rejoicing on the other, that another Royal Italian Opera sea * Reminiscences of the Opera, p. 260. son was scarcely to be anticipated. From the very commencement of the establishment of a rival operahouse an esprit de corps amongst the leading artistes and the entire company, from the highest to the lowest, had been established, which was wholly without precedent in the history of any theatre in Europe. Rivalry had cropped up in 1850 between one or two of the more eminent amongst them, but it was not of sufficient influence even to depress the prevalent disposition to pull heartily together. Antipathy to Mr. Lumley and the system of his management had much to do with this. If ever it should come to pass that the Royal Italian Opera were defunct, it was thoroughly well known, that until another rival establishment were provided-the prospects of which would be far distant indeed-not one of those, who had thrown in their lot with the great secession, would ever again have a chance of being seen or heard in the then chief arena for the development of artistic talent, and the realisation of those pecuniary advantages, which very far surpassed anything that could be elsewhere met with. Concerts had not then become the rage. Monster Festivals were not even so much as thought of. The mine of wealth would be closed, except to such individuals as Mr. Lumley could secure, and whom he would be able to bend to his purposes. He would once more become 'master of the situation, and how he would use it was no secret. Besides this also, the immense stride which operatic development had made in the years 1848 and 1849 would be driven back, and those who had been its promoters and assistants would not listen to the suggestion of retrogression. As events have turned out, whether it might not have been wiser to have permitted the enterprise to die, is problematical. After twenty-five years' experience, all the efforts many of which were stupendous that were made to secure a perfect ensemble seem to have gone for very little, since the operatic public is still in the full blaze of the mischievous 'star' system, before which adequate representation grows pale and still more pale. A rage for spectacle has also been engendered, which, being unaccompanied with perfect musical performances-the whole of the latter being sacrificed to the popularity of the individual, who is more cared for than the general effect is even thought of-merely gratifies the senses, without appealing to the judgment. In adverse combination with this disadvantage too is the fact, that notwithstanding the increase of the popular taste for musical entertainment within the last quarter of a century has been immense, that taste has not yet been educated-will it ever be derstanding and then to the apso in this country ?-up to the unpreciation of the works of the great masters, which never can have an adequate interpretation, so long as the rule of my wife, and four or five puppets," is permitted to obtain. therefore, of disbanding the Royal Mr. Delafield's failure instead, Italian Opera company, brought them into closer union. Mr. F. Gye, who was well known as a speculaalso as a man of practical business tor in popular amusements, and habits and experience, was enlisted into the service, and so early as the ing of the theatre in August 1849, month of September, after the clos became the lessee of the theatre, and of the scenery, dresses, wardrobe, music, properties, and effects belonging to it for the term of seven years, and at once entered into *See vol. ix. p. 446. an arrangement with the principal artistes, by which the workpeople, chorus, band, and other subordinate functionaries received preferential payment of their salaries in full, whilst the surplus profit was to be divided among the parties in stipulated proportions, Mr. Gye's salary as manager being fixed at 1500l. for the season. During the recess the most active and energetic efforts were made to bring together, for the season of 1850, a body of artistes that would maintain at least, if not extend, the prestige which the previous years had so positively established. It was not, however, until the end of February that the programme was issued, announcing the commencement of work for the 16th of March. By that programme it was seen that several important changes in the company had been made. Mdme. Castellan returned in place of Mdme. Dorus-Gras and Miss Catherine Hayes; Mdlle. Vera* succeeded to the occupation of Mdlle. Corbari; Herr Formes-who had recently made an impression in London in some performances of German operas that had been unsuccessful-and M. Zelger, from Brussels, divided the work of Signor Marini between them; Mdlle. d'Okolski was to share the contralto duty with Mdlle. de Meric; whilst Signor Tamberlik and M. Merelt, under the name of Maralti, supplanted Signor Salvi. These additions in no way interfered with the other older-standing engagements, whilst Mdme. Viardot, as about to appear two months earlier than last year, and Signor Ronconi were promised. The programme farther stated the intention of largely adding to the already considerably extended répertoire, and promised a season of equal brilliancy to those which had preceded it. On Saturday, March 16th, as pro- The mised, the season was inaugurated See Athenæum for 1850, p. 320. |