* * * * *
In June, 1842, Mendelssohn once more returned to London, this time
accompanied by his wife; and so at last Mrs. Moscheles had the
opportunity, to which she had been looking forward so long, of making
Cécile Mendelssohn’s acquaintance, and of welcoming her to England. They
met, as might be expected, fully disposed to indorse the bond of
friendship that united their husbands. Sympathetically attracted to one
another at the outset, they soon exchanged the more formal mode of
address for the affectionate “Du,” therein following the example of
their husbands, who, years ago, had in the same way taken the pledge of
brotherhood. Their friendship continued and remained unchanged until the
premature death of Cécile Mendelssohn.
On the 13th of June Mendelssohn conducted his A minor Symphony for the
first time in the Philharmonic. He played with Moscheles in a concert
arranged by the latter for the benefit of
[Illustration: musical notation