Historical fiction; Love stories; Philadelphia (Pa.) -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction; Sea stories
Just at that moment Anthony had desire for neither music nor light
company; he'd much rather have talked if Whitaker had been a person
with whom he could have discussed what was in his mind. But, at the
same time, he had no desire to be alone with his thoughts; so, with his
arm in that of the fop, he was led away to Fourth Street.
Mrs. Newell's house stood in a little court, just above Chestnut,
a brick-paved place, with handsome trees, little spaces about the
door-steps for growing plants in summer-time, and trellises for
rose-vines under each window. Mrs. Newell herself, as Whitaker had
said, was charming, a little mouse of a woman with dark eyes and an
engaging manner.
"You are just in time to hear Tosini," she told Anthony. "A fine
performer. He will play one of his own sonatas."
Mrs. Newell's drawing-room was crowded, and Anthony was presented here
and there to little groups of ladies. Tosini was a dark, Latin-looking
man with curly black hair, shot with gray; from the box of his violin
he drew sounds that melted and thrilled, and left the ladies fluttering
with delight.
"Astonishing tone," commented Whitaker, as he patted approvingly with
his gloves. "Wonderful vibrations. Sometimes I think strings and wood
have magic in them when brought together. Remarkable playing."
A round-faced man then blew a melody of Blanck's out of a German flute,
and a young lady with a small, sweet voice sang "Love in a Village,"
to the tinkling of a harpsichord. Then another young lady with a harp,
and an enterprising youth who bore a violoncello, joined forces with
the flute and violin and made their way through a quartet of Bach's,
to the gratification of every one. This done, there was a great
chattering and clamoring and exclaiming. Anthony stood at one side
rather disconsolately, Whitaker having deserted him, when he saw Mrs.
King smiling at him from across the room. At once he made his way to
her side.
"I saw you as you came in," she said, "but you did not permit your look
to go anywhere but straight ahead, and so I couldn't catch your eye
until now. I'm sure you enjoyed the music; you looked as though you
did."
"It was a treat to me," he returned. "A Spanish sailor thrumming
a guitar in the forecastle, or some indifferent fiddling at a
trading-post, has been the only music I've listened to for a long time."
"Your mother was a beautiful musician; too beautiful, I'm afraid, for
the city of her day. We rather resented finish," with a smile. "Have
you made up your mind to remain with us?"
"I have not yet seen my uncle."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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