Brahms was permitted to follow Joachim, and paid the master a visit of several hours' duration, in the course of which he played both to and with him. At its close Schumann walked back to Bonn with his dear young friend, and could not make up his mind to part with him. Johannes tore himself away just in time to catch his train, and wrote a few days afterwards:
'Dear honoured Friend,
'I must thank you myself for the great pleasure you give me by the dedication of your splendid concertstück.[57] How I rejoice to see my name thus printed! Especially, too, that I, like Joachim, have a concerto of my own.[58] We have often talked of the two works and which we like best—we have not been able to decide.
'I think with joy of the short hours that I was allowed to spend with you, they were so delightful—but passed so quickly. I cannot tell your wife enough about them; it makes me doubly glad that you received me with such friendship and kindness, and that you still think of the hour with so much affection.
'We shall be able to see you thus more and more frequently and pleasantly till we possess you again.
'I have taken the catalogue (chronological), as you wished, to your copyist (Fuchs).
'I expect you would like the original of Jenny Lind's letter. It is probably the handwriting that you want. I need not write out the contents for you.
'We are sending Bargiel's new work, it will give you great pleasure, as it does us; Op. 8 is a great advance upon Op. 9. Both are dedicated to your wife; that is what I should like to do always. I should like to take turns with the names Joachim and Clara Schumann till I had courage to add your name. That, probably, will not soon come to me.
'Now good-bye, dear man, and think sometimes with affection of your