THE YOUNG PRIMA DONNA: A ROMANCE OF THE OPERA. BY MRS. GREY. AUTHOR OF 66 THE DUKE." "Early bright, transient, chaste, as morning dew, IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. 7 PHILADELPHIA: LEA & BLANCHARD. ..... THE 955 6842 You V.2 YOUNG PRIMA DONNA. CHAPTER I. THE hour to me, so fraught with interest, had nearly arrived. It was with a universal tremor pervading my evey feeling, that I bent my steps towards the Operahouse, where I was to meet Rosalie. It was a beautiful calm evening, and as I passed some mansions, the balconies of which were filled with flowers, and a soft wind wafted their perfume, my thoughts reverted to past days. Slight withal may be the things which bring A tone of music-summer's eve or spring A flower-the wind-the ocean which shall wound, Striking the electric chain by which we're darkly bound. The odour of these flowers brought back to my mind, Fairbourne, that abode of peace, and all its sweet associations; Rosalie in her happy favoured childhood, and now what was she? the immolated slave -the tool of a sordid ruffian. The crowd of carriages, which extended along the whole street, through which I passed, before I reached the Opera-house, was unusually great-the multitude before the doors was dense, and I foresaw that the theatre would be filled to overflowing; how would Rosalie ever be able to undergo this gaze of thousands? I went, at once, to her dressing-room, but found. that she had not arrived. Then, for the first time, I discovered that it had been arranged, that one act of another opera was to be performed, before the piece commenced, in which she was to appear. This was almost a relief to me, for I felt that I should have time to recover from the nervous trepidation, which had seized me. Although it was still early, not a blank space was to be seen, within the walls of the theatre. The overture was, at length, concluded, and the first performance commenced. I now began to be very anxious for Rosalie's arrival, and wondered that I did not see Arturo, who was to perform the part of Lindor in "Nina," and also make his first appearance on an English stage. On inquiring, I found that he was in the theatre, and at last was ushered into his presence. He was standing close to a table, which was covered with flowers, and he appeared to be arranging them in a small basket. He was dressed for his part, and looked indeed, well calculated to be the lover of " Nina.” As I entered, he lifted up his eyes from his occupation, and there was something in his countenance that was cheering. He looked happier than I had seen him for a long time. This I soon found, arose from the circumstance of his anticipating, with vivid delight, acting with her that night-being able to pour forth unrestrained, the impassioned feelings of his heart. On expressing my anxiety on her account, he an swered in a voice of exultation. "But oh! Signor, consider what must be her success-how she will astonish and electrify all who hear her. onfo!"* Che tri How This was very little consolation to me. slightly did such triumph avail in the balance of her happiness! To me it seemed that it would be a moment of humiliation, rather than of pride. Her doom would then be sealed, she would be bona fide an actress, and my very soul shrunk from the idea, as if it had been but the first time that I had contemplated it. He was per At this moment Gabrielli entered. forming in the first piece, but had just stepped in, to tell me that Rosalie had arrived; and with a degree of anxiety and nervousness, which I had never before witnessed in him, he implored me to go to her. "And as you value her success," he said, "endeavour to calm her spirits-a failure now," he added, "would be destruction, and with her extraordinary uncertain mood, I tremble for the result." I went to her. To my surprise, she was perfectly composed, although certainly very pale. She was already attired in the dress, that she was to wear upon the occasion. Myrtilla was merely smoothing her lovely dark tresses, which were allowed to stray wildly about her face and bosom. I felt my eyes filling very full of tears, when I looked upon her, she reminded me so forcibly of a victim decked for sacrifice; but I endeavoured to make a strong effort over my feelings, and tried to speak cheerfully; however, I saw that she evidently divined, what was passing in my mind. She was silent, but took hold of my hand, and pressed it convulsively to her lips; there was something in this action, which conveyed to me the impression-almost as forcibly as words could have done, the knowledge of all that was passing within her heart. I never admired her so much; for the manner in which she commanded her feelings, was, indeed, in * What triumph!. |