22 The Woman of Fisions ; [July, 



" You can jest where the happiness of my life is at stake ! TalzikofF, 

 were it possible fov me to doubt of your sister's attachment——" 



'■ Wliat ! quite en Orasmane ?" 



" Je ne stiis point jalouxj si je I'Hais jamais!" 



" I have never before seen you so sarcastic." 



"^ And I have never before seen you so — so Come, I won't 



finish. — Look, what a prospect we have here ! quite worthy of adorning 

 the banks of your native island ! Enchant your eyes with it, my good 

 friend, and lighten your spirits by conversation with these valiant and 

 wise mountaineers." 



The two friends now went out to visit the environs of the dwelling in 

 which they were lodged. Lord Charles did not forget to ask after his 

 kinsman ; but no such name was known at Bastilica. On returning to 

 their temporary residence, they found their host absent, and fell into 

 conversation with his wife, who, assisted by her daughter Laura, was 

 occupied in preparing the supper. A morsel of viegiscia (salted beef) 

 was frying on the charcoal ; and upon the table were sausages, a cheese 

 from the mountain of Coscione, figs, almonds, and dried chesnuts ; a 

 large earthen vase of slices of fried lampreys preserved in oil, and a 

 basket of grapes and peaches. The wine was in stone bottles; the 

 plates and spoons were of wood ; the forks, iron. Four covers were pre- 

 pared, and four stools placed around the table. 



" Who sups with us ?" inquired the Count Alexis. 



" JMy husband and your guide," replied Angeluccia. 



" And you and your daughter ?" 



" We eat here, at the fire-side." 



" But why not with us ?" 



" It is not the custom." 



" It is then true that, in Corsica, the wives may not seat themselves 

 at table with their husbands ?" 



" It is not the custom in the mountains." 



" But at Bastia, mother, and at Ajaccio," said Laura. 



" Oh, there they live after the French fashion." 



" But," resumed the count, " you are then treated as an inferior?" 



" Like an inferior ! Is it because I work for strangers ? But, when 

 seated by my fire-side, who has the power to order me ? You would 

 not have such as I am, like the ladies of your grand cities, who do not 

 know how to make the very bread they eat ?" 



" So, then, it is not through respect that you do not take your place 

 at your husband's table ?" 



" Through respect ? No ! Do you not know that I have six sons, all as 

 tall as yourself; and that I have seventy kinsmen, all able to bear arms? 

 My husband has but forty-eight. INIy family owes no respect to any 

 one ; and, at the last election of Ettore, if it were not for me and mine, 

 the uncle had scarcely been named as deputy.-— Respect, indeed !" 



" Here is a personage who at least makes the most of her situation," 

 observed Lord Charles, in French, to his friend. 



" Yes," replied the count ; " vanity catches at any support. Our 

 hostess is as proud of dispensing her cabbages and onions " 



" As the mistress of a minister of disposing of places and pensions." 



"Your comparisons are always to the advantage of these barba- 

 rians." 



" And your observations always to their disparagement." 



