* * * * *

DOMINIE.  The young lady has talent, Mr. Feeble.

MR. FEEBLE.  Indeed she has!

DOMINIE.  How is it, Mr. Feeble, that she does not combine serious studies with her playing?

MR. FEEBLE.  Oh!  I used to make her play exercises by A.E.  Mueller, and some Etudes of Czerny’s, and sometimes a few scales.  But the child was so volatile, and had so little perseverance, and was so quick at learning every thing!  And then her mother wanted her to play modern pieces for parties, and we had to busy ourselves with those.  But our method has borne good fruit, as you can see.  Is not it so?

DOMINIE.  Do you not think, with firmness and decision, you could have set Mrs. N. on the right track?  Could not you cultivate the mechanical powers of your pupil, and combine an understanding of the musical construction of the piece, with her “playing at sight”?  The young lady, not to speak of other faults, has no tone on the piano.

MR. FEEBLE.  She can use the pedal for that, and, when she is older, she will acquire more strength; her touch is a little too weak at present.  And, besides, she is not to play in public for money, but only in company, and because it is the fashion.  Indeed, my dear sir, if I insisted on scales and exercises, I should have very few lessons in this city.  I have a wife and children to support, and my old father, the former organist, is dependent upon me.  You can do all this with your own children; but think how much time it requires to study the music!

     (The company bid each other “good-night.")

FATIMA (flippantly to Dominie).  I believe your daughter Emma is a very good player; but they say she has not so much talent as your eldest daughter.

DOMINIE.  Indeed! who told you that?

CHAPTER XI.

SECRETS.

(A Discourse on Piano-Playing, delivered to an Audience of Lady Pupils.)

Ladies,—­As I am about to make a journey of a few weeks with my daughters, we will suspend for a short time our musical meetings.  On my return, you will resume them with fresh interest.  We will then not only play and sing together, but occasionally talk upon kindred subjects.  Your friends will be made welcome, provided they are really interested in simple and noble musical performances, which make no attempt at display.  We will exclude from our circle malicious criticism and idle curiosity:  we require the accompaniment of the violin and ’cello, but not of those two disturbing elements.

To-day I wish to propound a query in regard to piano-playing, to the partial solution of which you will perhaps be glad to give some attention.  You may be sure that I shall always speak only upon subjects which are not even mentioned in the most crowded piano-schools.

Query. Why is it that our young, educated ladies, who enjoy the advantages of sufficient talent, industry, a serious purpose, and all the necessary aids, are usually dissatisfied with their progress and with their success in piano-playing?