Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-20
CHAPTER XII.


benefit of my best wishes.
CHAPTER XII.
oARLoTTA.
Through some letters of recommendation
had brought with me, was invited to must
cal soiree, where the company was chiefly
made up of Germans and French, with a
slight sprinkling of English people and Ital-
ians. One of the first persons l noticed on
entering was my female friend of the piazza,
who introduced to me an Italian lady and her
daughter, who, she said were about to set
ont in few days, by Veterino, for Genoa
Few faces could exceed in interest or beauty
that of the young Italian lady. Strange to
say, she was very fair, and possessed pearly
| clearness of conplexion not always found in
fair women. Her eyes were Of that ametly-
slime blue which is of all colors the most
beautiful They seemed like little fragments
Of the sky, and had all its infinite depth and
serenity. II was impossible to look at them
without certain futtering of the heart.
preserved silence little longer, perhaps, than
was becoming but at length observed that
rs they were travelling towards Genoa, IL
would afford me very great pleasure to be
permitted to accompany them. The mother
replied, that nothing would be easier, as they
did not intend taking all the carriage, but
merely places for themselves. Having learn
ed their address, and that of the owner of the
carriage, it was agreed that should call on
them, and make my arrangements, in the
morning. have a very foolish habit of be.
ing contented with one person at time; and
finding Carlotta (the only name by which, in
these pages, wish to designate her) extreme
~ agreeable, forgot altogether the rest of the
company; and, had been permitted, should
have spent the whole evening in conversing
with her. Our dialogue, however, was soon
interrupted by Carlotta's being requested to
sing. hate singing in general, especially
when knot OF women commence wailing,
like SO many lost spirits, around piano-forte;
but when woman has sweet voice, and
knows how to use it, | could listen to her for
ever. The pleasure of such moments is like
few in this world, and comes back again and
again upon the memory in afteryears, renew
ing the delight of the moment, and investing
it with all those delicate touches of melancho-
ly which cling to whatever we have enjoyed.
Carlotta, as she placed herself at the piano,
threw back her massive dark brown ringlets,
and raising slightly her large eyes, paused for
a moment, as il to collect and summon up
her powers. She then sang. To describe my
sensations while her voice was pouring like
nectar around me, would be impossible. The
notes seemed to descent like drops of melody
into an ocean of sound, which rolled and re-
verberated with infinite undulations over the
soul. Had she not been beautiful, and pos
fed little, as far as | was concerned. But
when all that is lovely in countenance or ex-
preston, and all that is gracefulin the female
form, are added TO voice of infinite richness,
sweetness, and power, il would require a
stoicism much more perfect than mine to re-
main Indifferent. The Austrian lady whom |
mad met in the morning, observing how COM
pletely was absorbed by Carlotta's singing,
reused me from my reverie by inquiring how
long had been in Italy.
Gone day." replied as soon as could
collect my thoughts.
Before you have been many days. said
! she, you will be lost past recall The wo-
men on this side of the Alps are srens.'
And on the other too. answered.
WELL" she inquired, are you not very
much obliged to me for providing you with
companions so agreeable as you appear to
| think Carlotta and her mother?''
protested myself to be infinitely indebted
to her. We then entered into long CONVEX
sation on operas, music, the great singers we
had both heard, and SO on. She did not affect
enthusiasm, but felt it, as could easily per-
ceive by the language she employed. ex-
perienced no enthusiasm, and did not affect
it; but confessed, rather than boosted, that
certain singers and kinds Of music had very
great charms for me.
AT the table d'hote Of the hotel where
lodged, | met two officers of the Indian army,
at once. They gave me letters of introduce
ton to friends at Genoa and Leghorn, and
promised, il they ever met me at Alexandria
as they fully expected, to ascend the Nile in
my company, at least as far as Thebes, where
they would turn off towards the Desert and
Cosseir. In company with these gentlemen,
strolled about the city, after having early
secured my place in the carriage, and saw
such curiosities as Milan has to show-at least
with one exception, ''The Last SUPPER by
Leonardo da Ninc. l put off visiting this
from hour to hour, and day to day why 1
know not, since, of all inanimate things, it
was what most wished to see in Milan. Per-
haps Carlotta's destinations had something to
do with it.
CHAPTER XIII.
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