DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68288#0215
SALONS AND CELEBRITIES 169
about the age of my own child, a cunning old-fashioned
little girl, gypsy-like and pretty, also, as I remember her,
especially polite. It was said in the family that Francesca
was always trying to put people at their ease. At that
time she and her sister were taking dancing lessons each
week, learning new steps and showing them to the family;
Miss Hall, their music teacher, playing for them on such
occasions.
One day, when Mr. Paderewski was there, he said, ‘Well,
little girls, how is the dancing coming on ? ’
It was coming on well and the little girls loved it.
‘Any new steps — and couldn’t you show them to
me?’
Oh, yes, they could show him, but the trouble was Miss
Hall wasn’t there to play for them. They couldn’t dance
without Miss Hall.
‘Well, perhaps I could play for you. How would that
do?’
You can imagine the unconscious condescension in the
tone of their visitor.
So the children picked up their skirts and went through
their steps, and the great musician played for them, and
when they were through, everybody applauded and they
sat down again breathless but happy. From his perch upon
the stool, Paderewski leaned forward and said:
‘And how did I play, Francesca? I hope I played well
enough.’
Francesca hesitated, her little face slightly troubled.
‘Oh, yes, Mr. Paderewski.’ She waited a moment, and
then apologetically, ‘You did awfully well. Of course it —
wasn’t — like — Miss Hall-’
True! It was not like Miss Hall — one — two — bang!
about the age of my own child, a cunning old-fashioned
little girl, gypsy-like and pretty, also, as I remember her,
especially polite. It was said in the family that Francesca
was always trying to put people at their ease. At that
time she and her sister were taking dancing lessons each
week, learning new steps and showing them to the family;
Miss Hall, their music teacher, playing for them on such
occasions.
One day, when Mr. Paderewski was there, he said, ‘Well,
little girls, how is the dancing coming on ? ’
It was coming on well and the little girls loved it.
‘Any new steps — and couldn’t you show them to
me?’
Oh, yes, they could show him, but the trouble was Miss
Hall wasn’t there to play for them. They couldn’t dance
without Miss Hall.
‘Well, perhaps I could play for you. How would that
do?’
You can imagine the unconscious condescension in the
tone of their visitor.
So the children picked up their skirts and went through
their steps, and the great musician played for them, and
when they were through, everybody applauded and they
sat down again breathless but happy. From his perch upon
the stool, Paderewski leaned forward and said:
‘And how did I play, Francesca? I hope I played well
enough.’
Francesca hesitated, her little face slightly troubled.
‘Oh, yes, Mr. Paderewski.’ She waited a moment, and
then apologetically, ‘You did awfully well. Of course it —
wasn’t — like — Miss Hall-’
True! It was not like Miss Hall — one — two — bang!