"Wiederseh'n! Ja, ich werd' in deinem Lichte TERESA had never been to any of the English theatres, and Mrs. Alexander, who tried every amusement to win her from the languid indifference which possessed her, took her one night to see Artaxerxes played. Unhappily for the effect of it, the parts were not well cast; and whilst Catherine laughed, Teresa yawned. Artaxerxes, as usual, was personated by a female, who might well have exclaimed with Hamlet, "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt !" When the noble Artaxerxes faced the audience, all were lost in admiration of his magnificent bust; but when he strode away in offended dignity, the expanse of his back disputed the palm of pre-eminence; vainly did his short arms strive to cross on his distracted bosom; and his voice was the most squeezy, strangled, un happy thing imaginable. The Arbaces was in the opposite extreme-a figure reminding one more of a clothes-horse than any thing human; a face like a barber's block, only not quite so expressive, and arms of an unnatural length, which performed a regular, unvarying routine of action, rising to his breast and giving it a thump, whilst the elbows were elevated in sharp angles, then descending gradually to their origi nal position. Teresa was amused to observe the expression of stern dignity which all these performers assumed when listening to each other. The next night she went to one of the large theatres, and witnessed the performance of Hamlet, that finest of all compositions. Kean was then in the zenith of his glory, and his splendid acting appeared to Teresa all but inspiration ;-and what is such acting as his but inspiration? She felt, as she listened to him and watched the marvellous expression of his fine countenance, the impotence of physical defects to mar the shining of real genius; and never before, though an enthusiastic admirer of Shakspeare, had she so thoroughly appreciated the unspeakable beauties of Hamlet. It is a noble talent that of fine acting, and but few possess it. What but kindred genius can enable us to enter fully into the conception of a master-mind? and the actor who can embody this conception, and electrify us by the truth of his representation, is undoubtedly a man of powerful intellect and intense feeling. Teresa came away from the theatre vividly impressed by the noble acting she had witnessed, and the remembrance of it haunted her for long after. August at length arrived, that most glorious month in the year; and the Alexanders left town for their family estate in Scotland. Catherine did not accompany them, but she promised to join them with her sister's family in a few weeks. Rossfirth was the name of Mr. Alexander's place, and it was beautifully situated near the coast; Teresa was enchanted with the aspect of the country as she approached it; the day on which they concluded their journey was heavenly; but, if any scenery could have dispensed with sunshine, it would have been this. For a considerable distance the travellers drove along the banks of a river, which eventually emptied itself into the sea; the corn-fields on the opposite bank were rich with golden grain, which swayed gently and gracefully to the soft breeze. Sometimes the river disappeared altogether from their view, and, at other times, all they saw of it would be a little shaded basin, with willows dipping their branches in it, and one or two boats with boys, either mooring or unfastening them. In all parts the banks were bordered with a profusion of wild flowers, and the purple heath, and the graceful bluebell greeted the eye in all directions. The road wound along the bases of high mountains, some rugged and some planted, and highly cultivated; and every now and then, through their openings, the travellers caught a view of the tranquil summer sea, and its innumerable sails. Oh! Scotland, dear Scotland! we have many bright and happy, and no sorrowful associations connected with your fair cities, your heathy mountains, your wild glens, and romantic lakes; and though, as yet, the path of our pilgrimage has not led us through you, our heart yearns towards you more exceedingly than towards any other land save our own bright country! The travellers drove through the pretty little town of the principal part of which belonged to Mr. Alexander. The town was quite worthy of Scotland-so clean and cheerful, and as they crossed the bridge, and drove through it, the church bells continued to ring a merry peal of welcome. As Teresa traversed Mr. Alexander's fine park and gazed around her at the thick planting, with a background of blue mountain tops drawn against the clear sky, she thought to herself, "How is it possible that any one possessing such a delicious retreat as this, in such a country, and surrounded by such scenery, should ever wish to exchange it for the crowded streets and impure atmosphere of a vast city?" |