DOROTHY MEETS HERR DEICHENBERG
The arrival of Herr Deichenberg at Bellvieu was looked forward to
with breathless interest by Dorothy, and calm satisfaction by Aunt
Betty, whose joy at seeing her girl so well pleased with the
arrangements made for her studies, had been the means of reviving her
spirits not a little, until she seemed almost like her old self.
The day following Dorothy's return Ephraim was sent to the musician's
studio with a note from Mrs. Calvert, telling of the girl's arrival,
and suggesting that possibly the first meeting would be productive of
better results if held at Bellvieu, where the girl would be free from
embarrassment. Here, too, was a piano, the note stated, and Herr
Deichenberg, who was also an expert on this instrument, might, if he
desired, test Dorothy's skill before taking up the work with her in
earnest in his studio.
Ephraim returned in the late afternoon, bringing a written answer
from the music master, in which he stated that it was contrary to
his custom to visit the homes of his pupils, but that in the present
instance, and under the existing circumstances, he would be glad to
make an exception. He set the time of his visit at ten the following
morning.
Dorothy awoke next day with a flutter of excitement. To her it seemed
that the crucial moment of her life had come. If she were to fail--!
She crowded the thought from her mind, firmly resolved to master the
instrument which is said by all great musicians to represent more
thoroughly than any other mode of expression, the joys, hopes and
passions of the human soul.
Breakfast over, with a feeling of contentment Dorothy stole up to her
room to dress, the taste of Dinah's coffee and hot biscuits still
lingering in her mouth.
As the minutes passed she found herself wondering what Herr
Deichenberg would look like. She conjured up all sorts of pictures of
a stoop-shouldered little German, her final impression, however,
resolving itself into an image of "The Music Master's" hero, Herr Von
Barwig.
Would he bring his violin? she wondered. It was a rare old Cremona,
she had heard, with a tone so full and sweet as to dazzle the Herr's
audiences whenever they were so fortunate as to induce him to play.
Descending finally, arrayed in her prettiest gown, a dainty creation
of lawn and lace, Dorothy found Aunt Betty awaiting her.
"Never have I seen you dress in better taste, my dear!" cried Mrs.
Calvert, and the girl flushed with pleasure. "The Herr, as you have
perhaps surmised, is a lover of simple things, both in the way of
clothes and colors, and I am anxious that you shall make a good
impression. He, himself, always dresses in black--linen during the
warmer days, broadcloth in the winter. Everything about him in fact
is simple--everything but his playing, which is wonderful, and truly
inspired by genuine genius."
"Stop, auntie, dear, or you will have me afraid to meet the Herr.
After holding him up as such a paragon, is it any wonder I should
feel as small and insignificant as a mouse?"
"Come, come, you are not so foolish!"
"Of course, I'm not, really--I was only joking," and Dorothy's laugh
rang out over the lawn as they seated themselves on the gallery to
await the arrival of the guest. "But I do feel a trembling sensation
when I think that I am to meet the great Herr Deichenberg, of whom I
have heard so much, yet seen so little."
"There is nothing to tremble over, my dear--nothing at all. He is
just like other men; very ordinary, and surely kind-hearted to all
with whom he comes in contact."
As they were discussing the matter, Jim and Ephraim came around the
corner of the house, their hands full of fishing tackle.
"Well, Aunt Betty," greeted the boy, "we're off for the old
Chesapeake to court the denizens of the deep, and I'm willing to
wager we'll have fish for breakfast to-morrow morning."
He pulled off his broad-brimmed straw hat and mopped a perspiring
brow.
"Don't be too sure of that," returned Aunt Betty. "Fish do not always
bite when you want them to. I know, for I've tried it, many's the
time."
"Mah Miss Betty suah uster be er good fisher-woman," quoth Ephraim, a
light of pride in his eyes. "I've seen her sot on de bank ob de
Chesapeake, en cotch as many as 'leben fish in one hour. Big fellers,
too--none ob yo' lil' cat-fish en perch. Golly! I suah 'members de
time she hooked dat ole gar, en hollered fo' help tuh pull 'im out.
Den all de folks rush' up en grab de line, en ole Mistah Gar jes'
done come up outen de watah like he'd been shot out ob er gun."
Slapping his knees at the recollection, Ephraim guffawed loudly, and
with such enthusiasm that Aunt Betty forgot her infirmities and
joined in most heartily.
"The joke was on me that time, Ephy," she finally said, wiping the
tears from her eyes. "But we landed old 'Mistah Gar,' which I suppose
was what we wanted after all."
"Wish I might hook a gar to-day," said Jim.
"En like as not yo' will, chile, 'case dem gars is mighty plentiful
in de bay. Hardly a day go by, but w'at two or t'ree ob 'em is yanked
outen de sea, en lef' tuh dry up on de bank."
"Well, we'll try our hand at one if possible. Good-by, Dorothy!
Good-by, Aunt Betty. Have plenty of good things for lunch," were
Jim's parting words, as he and Ephraim strode off down the path
toward the gate. "We will be as hungry as bears when we get back, and
I'm smacking my lips now in anticipation of what we're going to
have."
"Go along!" said Aunt Betty. "You're too much trouble. I'll feed you
on corn bread and molasses." But she laughed heartily. It pleased her
to see Jim enjoying himself. "Oh, maybe I'll cook something nice for
you," she called after him--"something that will make your mouth
water sure enough."
"Yum yum! Tell me about it now," cried Jim.
"No; I'm going to surprise you," answered the mistress of Bellvieu,
and with a last wave of their hands, Jim and the old darkey
disappeared behind the big hedge.
They were hardly out of sight before the figure of a little,
gray-haired man walked slowly up to the gate, opened it, and
continued his way up the walk, and Dorothy Calvert, her heart beating
wildly, realized that she was being treated to her first sight of the
famous music master, Herr Deichenberg.
As the Herr paused before the steps of the Calvert mansion, hat in
hand, both Mrs. Calvert and Dorothy arose to greet him.
Dorothy saw before her a deeply intellectual face, framed in a long
mass of gray hair; an under lip slightly drooping; keen blue eyes,
which snapped and sparkled and seemed always to be laughing; a nose
slightly Roman in shape, below which two perfect rows of white teeth
gleamed as Herr Deichenberg smiled and bowed.
"I hope I find you vell dis morning, ladies," was his simple
greeting.
[Illustration: "HERR DEICHENBERG."
"_Dorothy's Triumph._"]
"Indeed, yes, Herr," Aunt Betty responded, offering her hand. "I am
glad to see you again. This is the young lady of whom I spoke--my
great-niece, Dorothy Calvert."
"H'm! Yes, yes," said the Herr, looking the girl over with kindly
eye, as she extended her hand. Then, with Dorothy's hand clasped
tightly in his own, he went on: "I hope, Miss Dorothy, dat ve vill
get on very good togedder. I haf no reason to believe ve vill not,
an' perhaps--who knows?--perhaps ve shall surprise in you dat spark
of genius vhich vill make you de best known little lady in your great
American land."
"Oh, I hope so, Herr Deichenberg--I hope so," was the girl's fervent
reply. "It has been my greatest ambition."
The Herr turned to Aunt Betty:
"She iss in earnest, Madame; I can see it at a glance, and it iss
half de battle. Too many things are lost in dis world t'rough a lack
of confidence, and de lack of a faculty for getting out de best dat
iss in one."
The Herr sank into one of the deep, comfortable rockers on the
gallery, near Aunt Betty, as Dorothy, at a signal from her aunt,
excused herself and went in search of Dinah, with the result that
mint lemonade, cool and tempting, was soon served to the trio
outside, greatly to the delight of the Herr professor, who sipped his
drink with great satisfaction. After a few moments he became quite
talkative, and said, after casting many admiring glances over the
grounds of old Bellvieu:
"Dis place reminds me more than anything I have seen in America, of
my fadder's place in Germany. De trees, de flowers, de shrubs--dey
are all de same. You know," he added, "I live in Baltimore, dat iss
true, yet, I see very little of it. My list of pupils iss as large as
I could well desire, und my time iss taken up in my little studio."
"But one should have plenty of fresh air," said Aunt Betty, "It
serves as an inspiration to all who plan to do great things."
"Dat sentiment does you credit, madame. It iss not fresh air dat I
lack, for I have a little garden in vhich I spend a great deal of
time, both morning und evening--it iss de inspiration of a grand
estate like dis. It makes me feel dat, after all, there iss something
I have not got out of life."
There was a suspicious moisture in the Herr's eyes, brought there, no
doubt, by recollections of his younger days in the Old Country, and
Aunt Betty, noticing his emotion, hastened to say:
"Then it will give us even greater pleasure, Herr Deichenberg, to
welcome you here, and we trust your visits will be neither short nor
infrequent."
"Madame, I am grateful for your kindness. No one could say more than
you have, and it may be dat I vill decide to give Miss Dorothy her
lessons in her own home, dat ve may both have de inspiration of de
pretty trees und flowers."
"Aside from the fact that I am anxious to see your studio," said the
girl, "that arrangement will please me greatly."
"It vill please me to be able to show you my studio, anyvay," said
the Herr.
"How long have you been in America?" Aunt Betty wanted to know, as
the Herr again turned toward her.
"I came over just after de Civil War. I was quite a young lad at de
time und a goot musician. I had no difficulty in finding employment
in New York City, vhere I played in a restaurant orchestra for a
number of years. Den I drifted to Vashington, den to Baltimore, vhere
I have remained ever since."
"And have you never been back across the water?" asked Dorothy.
"Yes; once I go back to my old home to see my people. Dat was de
last time dat I see my fadder und mudder alive. Now I have few
relatives living, und almost no desire to visit Germany again.
America has taken hold of me, as it does every foreigner who comes
over, und has made of me vhat I hope iss a goot citizen."
The talk then drifted to Dorothy's lessons. Herr Deichenberg
questioned her closely as to her experience, nodding his head in
grave satisfaction as she told of her lessons from Mr. Wilmot at
Deerhurst. Then, apparently satisfied that she would prove an apt
pupil, he asked to be allowed to listen to her playing. So, at Aunt
Betty's suggestion, they adjourned to the big living-room, where
Dorothy tenderly lifted her violin from its case.
As she was running her fingers over the strings to find if the
instrument was in tune, she noticed Herr Deichenberg holding out his
hand for it.
She passed it over. The old German gave it a careful scrutiny,
peering inside, and finally nodding his head in satisfaction.
"It iss a goot instrument," he told her. "Not as goot as either a
Cremona or a Strad, but by all means goot enough to serve your
purpose."
"It was a present from my Uncle Seth," said Dorothy, "and I prize it
very highly, aside from its actual value."
"Und so you should--so you should," said the Herr. "Come,
now,"--moving toward the piano. "You read your music of course?"
Dorothy admitted that she did.
The Herr, sitting on the stool before the large, old-fashioned
instrument, struck a chord.
"Tune your instrument with me, und we vill try something you know
vell. I shall then be able to judge both of your execution und your
tone. There iss de chord. Ah! now you are ready? All right. Shall we
try de 'Miserere' from 'Il Trovatore?' I see you have it here."
Dorothy nodded assent.
Then, from somewhere in his pocket, Herr Deichenberg produced a small
baton, and with this flourished in his right hand, his left striking
the chords on the piano, he gave the signal to play.
Her violin once under her chin, the bow grasped firmly in her hand,
what nervousness Dorothy had felt, quickly vanished. She forgot the
Herr professor, Aunt Betty--everything but the music before her.
Delicately, timidly, she drew her bow across the strings, then, when
the more strenuous parts of the Miserere were reached, she gathered
boldness, swaying to the rhythm of the notes, until a light of
positive pleasure dawned in Herr Deichenberg's eyes.
"Ah!" he murmured, his ear bent toward her, as if to miss a single
note would be a rare penance. "Ah, dat iss fine--fine!"
Suddenly, then, he dropped his baton, and fell into the accompaniment
of the famous piece, his hands moving like lightning over the keys of
the piano.
Such music Aunt Betty vowed she had never heard before.
With a grand flourish the Herr and Dorothy wound up the Miserere, and
turned toward their interested listener for approval. And this Aunt
Betty bestowed with a lavish hand.
"I am proud indeed to know you and to have you for a pupil," the
music master said, turning to Dorothy. "You have an excellent touch
and your execution iss above reproach, considering de lessons you
have had. I am sure ve shall have no trouble in making of you a great
musician."
Flushing, partly from her exertions, partly through the rare
compliment the great professor had paid her ability, the girl turned
to Aunt Betty and murmured:
"Oh, auntie, dear, I'm so glad!"
"And I am delighted," said Aunt Betty. "That is positively the most
entrancing music I have ever heard."
Herr Deichenberg showed his teeth in a hearty laugh.
"She shall vait until you have practiced a year, my little girl," he
said, winking at his prospective pupil. "Den who shall say she vill
not be charmed by vhat she hears? But come," he added, sobering, "let
us try somet'ing of a different nature. If you are as proficient in
de second piece as in de first, I shall have no hesitation in
pronouncing you one of de most extraordinary pupils who has ever come
under my observation."
Dorothy bowed, and throwing her violin into position, waited for the
Herr professor to select from the music on the piano the piece he
wished her to play.
"Ah! here iss 'Hearts und Flowers.' Dat iss a pretty air und may be
played with a great deal of expression, if you please. Let me hear
you try it, Miss Dorothy."
Again the baton was waved above the Herr professor's head. The next
instant they swung off into the plaintive air, Dorothy's body, as
before, keeping time to the rhythm of the notes, the music master
playing the accompaniment with an ease that was astonishing. In every
movement the old German showed the finished musician. Twice during
the rendition of the piece did he stop Dorothy, to explain where she
had missed the fraction of a beat, and each time, to his great
satisfaction, the girl rallied to the occasion, and played the music
exactly as he desired.
The ordeal over at last, Herr Deichenberg was even more lavish in his
praise of Dorothy's work.
"Of course, she iss not a perfect violinist," he told Aunt Betty. "Ve
could hardly expect dat, you know. But for a young lady of her age
und experience she has made rapid progress. Herr Wilmot, who gave de
first lessons had de right idea, und there iss nothing dat he taught
her dat ve shall have to change."
Out on the broad gallery, as he was taking his leave, the professor
looked proudly at Dorothy again.
"I repeat dat I am glad to meet you und have you for a pupil. Vhen
shall de first lesson be given?"
Dorothy threw a quick glance at Aunt Betty.
"Not for at least four weeks, Herr Deichenberg," said that lady.
"Eh? Vhat!" cried the old music master. "Not for four veeks! Vhy iss
it dat you vait an eternity? Let us strike vhile de iron iss hot, as
de saying has it."
"But, Herr, my little girl has just returned from a winter of
strenuous study at the Canadian school of Oak Knowe, and I have
promised her a rest before she takes up her music."
"If dat iss so, I suppose I shall have to curb my impatience," he
replied, regretfully. "But let de time be as short as possible. If
you are going avay, please notify me of your return, und I vill
manage to come to Bellvieu to give Miss Dorothy her first lesson. But
don't make it too long! I am anxious--anxious. She vill make a great
musician--a great musician. So goot day, ladies. It has been a
pleasure to me--dis visit."
"Let us hope there will be many more, Herr Deichenberg," said Aunt
Betty.
They watched the figure of the little music teacher until it
disappeared through the gate and out of sight behind the hedge. Then
they turned again to their comfortable rockers, to discuss the visit
and Dorothy's future.
"Oh, Aunt Betty," confessed the girl, "I was terribly nervous until I
felt my violin under my chin. It seemed to give me confidence, and I
played as I have never played before. Somehow, I felt I could not
make a mistake. I'm so glad the Herr professor was pleased. Isn't he
a perfect dear? So genteel, so polished, in spite of his
dialect--just the kind of a man old Herr Von Barwig was in 'The Music
Master.'"
Dinah came out on the gallery to say that Dorothy was wanted at the
'phone.
"Oh, I wonder who it can be?" said the girl. "I didn't think any of
my friends knew I was home."
She hastened inside, and with the receiver at her ear, in keen
anticipation murmured a soft:
"Hello!"
"Hello, Dorothy, dear! How are you?"
It was a girl's voice and the tones were familiar.
"Who is this? I--I don't quite catch the--! Oh, surely; it's Aurora
Blank!"
"You've guessed it the first time. I only learned a few moments ago
that you were home. I'm just dying to see you, to learn how you liked
your trip and the adventures you had at school. You'll tell me about
them in good time, won't you, Dorothy?"
"Why, yes, of course. On our camping trip, perhaps."
"Won't that be jolly? Papa says we're to stay in the mountains as
long as we like--that's what he bought the auto for. Gerald and I
have been planning to start the first of the week if you can be
ready."
"Oh, I'm sure we can. I'll speak to Aunt Betty and let you know."
"Do so, and I'll run over to Bellvieu to-morrow to discuss the
details. Did that nice boy, Jim Barlow, return to Baltimore with
you?"
"Yes; he is going with us on the trip--at least, Aunt Betty said he
was included in the invitation."
"Indeed he is! I like him immensely, dear--lots more than he likes
me, I reckon."
"Oh, I don't know!"
"I'm sure of it."
"Aurora, I'm afraid you're trying to make a conquest."
"No, I'm not--honor bright. But he's a dear boy and you can tell him
I said so."
"I'll do that," said Dorothy, with a laugh. Then she said good-by and
hung up the receiver. "I guess I won't!" she muttered, as she went
out to join Aunt Betty again. "Jim Barlow would have a conniption fit
if he ever knew what Aurora Blank had said."