While speaking I had walked towards the door, but I had only taken a few steps when Lise, who followed me, took my hand and pointed to my harp.
“You want me to play now?” I asked, smiling at her.
She nodded and clapped her hands.
Although I had no heart to play, I played my prettiest waltz for this little girl. At first she listened with her big, beautiful eyes fixed on me, then she began to keep time with her feet, and very soon was dancing gayly round the kitchen, while her brothers and sisters watched her. Her father was delighted. When the waltz was finished the child came and made me a pretty curtsy. I would have played for her all day, but the father thought she had danced enough so, instead, I sang the Neapolitan song that Vitalis had taught me. Lise stood opposite me, moving her lips as though repeating the words. Then, suddenly, she turned round and threw herself into her father’s arms, crying.
“That’s enough music,” said the father.
“Isn’t she a silly?” said the brother named Benjamin, scoffingly; “first she dances, and then she cries!”
“She’s not so silly as you!” retorted the elder sister, leaning over the little one affectionately. “She understands…”
While Lise cried on her father’s knee, I again strapped my harp to my shoulder, and made for the door.
“Where are you going?” asked the gardener. “Wouldn’t you like to stay here and work? It won’t be an easy life. You’ll have to get up very early in the morning and work hard all day. But you may be sure that you won’t have to go through what you did last night. You will have a bed and food and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have earned it. And, if you’re a good boy, which I think you are, you will be one of the family.”
Lise turned round and, through her tears, she looked at me and smiled. I could hardly believe what I heard. I just stared at the gardener. Then Lise jumped off her father’s knee and came up and took my hand.