But do not fear, my Richard, do not weep! I will answer
the thunder of Heaven with its own music."
She flew to a harpsichord which stood in the room, and, while the
servant and master gazed on each other, as if doubting whether her
senses were about to leave her entirely, she wandered over the keys,
producing a wilderness of harmony, composed of passages recalled by
memory, or combined by her own musical talent, until at length her voice
and instrument united in one of those magnificent hymns in which her
youth had praised her Maker, with voice and harp, like the Royal Hebrew
who composed it. The tear ebbed insensibly from the eyes which she
turned upwards--her vocal tones, combining with those of the instrument,
rose to a pitch of brilliancy seldom attained by the most distinguished
performers, and then sunk into a dying cadence, which fell, never again
to rise,--for the songstress had died with her strain.
The horror of the distracted husband may be conceived, when all efforts
to restore life proved totally ineffectual. Servants were despatched for
medical men--Hartley, and every other who could be found. The General
precipitated himself into the apartment they had so lately left, and in
his haste ran, against Middlemas, who, at the sound of the music from
the adjoining apartment, had naturally approached nearer to the door,
and surprised and startled by the sort of clamour, hasty steps, and
confused voices which ensued, had remained standing there, endeavouring
to ascertain the cause of so much disorder.
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