ADMIRABLY DONE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 18, 30 April 1892, Page 454

ADMIRABLY DONE.

Bettina Walker tells in her * Musical Experiences’ the story of a poor and talented pupil of the great Sgambati, who broke down in playing a piece at an afternoon concert. The poor girl rose from the piano in a nervous panic, wrung her hands, and looked appealingly at the audience. One of the professors led her back to her seat, and gently, but with authority, bade her resume her playing. She succeeded in finishing, by a great effort of will. I said the next morning that I wondered at her self control in recovering from her previous fright, and a fellowpupil replied : ‘ O signorina, had you but seen her in class this morning, how she wept as she begged Sgambati's pardon, and deplored having given way to such an unreasonable panic ! And the professor was so kind to her ! He told her she must not cry any more, but think of retrieving herself. He would give her the chance of doing so by having her play at the next pupils’ concert, four weeks later. My sister and I felt very anxious for Signorina G as that time approached ; we feared she would brood over what had happened, and so mar her future prospects. We finally decided that the best way of helping her a little would be to give her some agreeable surprise during the hours of suspense, and thus divert her thoughts into another channel.

Finally we wrote a letter to the young lady, praising her talent, and begged her not to let her thoughts revert to what was no real discredit to her, the piece that she attempted having been one of enormous difficulty. We did not sign our names to the letter, but concluded by telling her we should be at the concert, and that we fully expected she would play admirably. I took the letter to her house, and wore a thick veil to avoid recognition. At the concert Signorina G looked very happy, and played with energy and fire. Signor Sgambati seemed all pleasure and satisfaction as he shook hands with his pupil at the conclusion of the piece. Then he descended from the platform and hurried down the room, glancing to the right and left as he moved along. He came nearer, and I perceived that his eyes were beaming with irrepressible amusement, and even before he addressed me, I feared that all was discovered, and knew I was reddening in a very tell tale manner. ‘ The family want, of course, to know you,’ he said to me, with a meaning smile. ‘ What family ?’ was my rejoinder. • Ah, signorina, it is of no use ! If I did not know as much as I do, your colour would be quite enough to excite suspicion. Come, come, there is no use in fencing 1 The letter '. I have not only heard of it, but I have seen it. Don’t blame me if I convey to you the thanks of the whole family, and their wish to be at once presented to you.’ As I afterward learned, a fellow-pupil to whom the letter was shown had recognized my handwriting, and made his discovery public. This incident began for me a most interesting acquaintance, and the following year, to my delight as well as ceived her own, she passed an excellent examination, and reher diploma.