Neither Jew nor Greek : $b a story of Jewish social life — John Shaqi
Neither Jew nor Greek : $b a story of Jewish social lifeGuttenberg, Violet
General
Neither Jew nor Greek : $b a story of Jewish social life
Guttenberg, Violet
Jews -- England -- Fiction
Herbert Karne brought her to town, and stayed for a few days in order to
go with her to the entrance examination at the Academy. The principal
was delighted with her voice, and arranged for her to go to M. Emil
Lambert, the eminent professor of singing. She was also to be taught
elocution, pianoforte, harmony, and counterpoint, and was to attend the
various classes and lectures in connection with the Academy curriculum.
Herbert was glad that her time would be so fully occupied, for she would
have no opportunity for feeling the pain of separation.
“You will be a musician to your finger tips by the time you have
finished studying,” he said, as they came away.
Mrs. Friedberg gave Celia a sitting-room at the top of the house, where
she could practise without the least fear of being disturbed. It was
light and cheerful, and looked out upon the front of the road. Celia
liked to sit by the window and watch the omnibuses pass; and she would
speculate as to where all the passengers were going. The life and
movement in the streets quite fascinated her: it was so entirely
different from the quiet seclusion of the Towers.
When Herbert had gone, and her first attack of homesickness had been
overcome, the girl amused herself by unpacking and arranging some of the
little treasures she had brought from Durlston. The room looked more
homelike when her cuckoo-clock was on the mantelpiece, and her own
little knick-knacks were arranged on the sideboard. Then there were her
numerous books and music, which, with their familiar bindings, greeted
her like old friends as she sorted and put them in their places.
The piano had been placed against the wall, but Celia had it moved into
the centre of the room; and draped the back of it with stiff ivory silk,
on the centre of which was a beautiful representation of St. Cecilia at
the organ, the handiwork of her brother.
The appearance of the room was quite transformed by the time she had
finished, and she called Lottie Friedberg up to see the changes she had
made. A large painting of Herbert Karne, done by himself, rested on an
easel of carved oak, and close by was a panel portrait, in the Rembrandt
style, of Lady Marjorie Stonor in evening dress. Celia had instinctively
placed these two in close proximity to each other, though she did not
know why she had done so. There were other pictures and paintings in
evidence as well, and Lottie examined them all with keen interest.
“That’s rather a nice-looking fellow,” she observed, pausing before a
cabinet photograph in a silver frame; “he looks like an actor, and his
eyes are just a wee bit like George Alexander’s, don’t you think so?”
Celia smiled. “I don’t know Mr. Alexander, so I can’t say,” she
returned. “But this gentleman does not belong to the dramatic
profession. He is a doctor--a great friend of my brother’s.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account