270 Biographical Sketch of ^llla. Sontag* [SEP^. 



The stranger was silent, and the company seemed disposed to continue so ; 

 the Lieutenant-Colonel, it is true, whilst he picked his teeth, muttered some unin- 

 telligible words between them, as if he would have spoken out, but durst notj 

 and the manager seemed too much taken aback by the truth of the imputation 

 to be provided with an apt rejoinder. The Abbe was the first to recover his 

 voice, and said, having previously moistened his palate with a glass of champagne 

 "I love the gentleman's enthusiasm, and disesteem of sordid motives. \i\ too, 

 have myself a preference for nobler pleasures ! Here,gflrpow, a couple dozen more 

 oysters." 



Just at this moment, the night-watch proclaimed the eleventh hour, and spite 

 of the pathetic remonstrances of the Abb, the party made preparations for 

 breaking up. I shall leave them to put these duly in execution, and introduce 

 my reader to another scene. 



The first visit I paid next morning was to the house of the beautiful Caroline,* 

 who had hitherto ranked as the prima donna of the K Theatre. This amiable 

 young lady exhibited a complete picture of the mingled workings of rage, jealousy, 

 and disappointment at intervals, relieved by a passionate flow of tears. I strove 

 to console her, in vain ; nor was it until the entrance of her bosom friend 

 Auguste,f the first actress, that she began to rally. A consultation ensued as to 

 the most effectual means for interrupting the progress and thwarting the success 

 of the hated novelty. The only hand whose extension appeared likely to save 

 the mourning Caroline, was that of criticism : and the twain lost no time, there- 

 fore, in pitching upon a select few of its professors to enlist in their favour; and, 

 with the view of securing the full co-operation of these, they determined to relax 

 in a great degree that haughtiness and reserve wherewith they had accustomed 

 themselves to treat the gentlemen of the press. 



Thus had the lovely songstress's appearance put in motion a double train of 

 feelings those of adulation and envy: the shallow-minded eulogies of the one, 

 and mean injustice of the other, are alike disgusting; and we turn with pleasure 

 from both to a more agreeable and interesting object the songstress herself. 



To the young, pure, and sensitive heart of Henrietta, the notice she attracted 

 was any thing but congenial. She was conscious that the publicity of her situa- 

 tion could not fail to imply something indelicate to true feminine feeling : but 

 circumstances and custom (together with a certain innocent belief that it could 

 not be otherwise) t- nded greatly to overcome this sensation. Altogether, how- 

 ever, her lot had more the appearance than the reality of being enviable ; and 

 this chiefly from two co-operating causes namely, the impertinent freedom of 

 the critics, who (probably because they knew nothing of music) seemed to prefer 

 descanting in no measured terms upon her personal accomplishments, and the 

 countless tedious visits which were daily made her, and which she, unfortunately, 

 was obliged to receive. By this latter annoyance, indeed, all those leisure hours 

 were purloined which she had formerly been habituated to devote to the enjoy- 

 ment of her own thoughts and the society of books, varied by agreeable household 

 occupations. 



Amongst her regular train, it will not be difficult to imagine that our friends 

 the orators of the Restaurateur were duly numbered, including the young man (of 

 whom the rest knew no more than we did). He spoke but little, although a 

 sarcastic smile now and then curled his lip : by Henrietta he was uniformly well 

 received but this courtesy was not extended to him by his fellow admirers, who, 

 indeed, appeared alone withheld by fear (inspired by his evident decision of cha- 

 racter) from treating the stranger rudely. Nothing further could be gathered 

 respecting him than that he was a young musician, by name Werner ; and he 

 was, as we have before observed, of superior presence, although his dress betrayed 

 not the man of opulence. 



such (of a better order) as have been already acted a full twelvemonth at the two great 

 bouses. Mademoiselle Sonntag's engagement there was extremely lucrative, beiug under- 

 stood to amount to 10,000 Prussian dollars a-year almost an unheard-of salary iu 

 Germany. 



* Caroline Seidler. t Augusta Stick. 



