then with youthful agility jumped up from his seat.

"That was the prelude," he said, aloud, "and now we will go to
work."

He hastily threw the white and comfortable dressing-gown from his
shoulders and rapidly walked toward the looking-glass which hung
over the bureau. Every thing was ready for his toilet, the footman
having carefully arranged the whole. He put the cravat with lace
trimmings around his neck and arranged the tie before the looking-
glass in the most artistic manner; then he slipped into the long
waistcoat of silver-lined velvet, and finally put on the long-tailed
brown coat with bright metal buttons. He was just going to put the
heavy silver watch, which his wife had given him on their wedding-
day, into his vest-pocket, when his eye fell upon the blue ribbon
embroidered with silver, which, ever since his visit to the imperial
palace, had lain on the bureau.

"I will wear it on this holiday of mine," said Haydn, with great
warmth, "for I think the day on which a new work is begun is a
holiday, and we ought to wear our choicest ornaments to celebrate
it."

He attached the ribbon to his watch, threw it over his neck, and
slipped the watch into his vest-pocket.

"If that beautiful Mrs. Shaw could see me now," he whispered, almost
inaudibly, "how her magnificent eyes would sparkle, and what a
heavenly smile would animate her angelic features! Yes, yes, I will
remember her smile--it shall find an echo in the jubilant accords of