24 The Woman of Visions ; £July, 



absent, who is to hear his last words? who will cry to him Jesu Maria!' 

 — She departed on saying this ; but she wept. She had to wait to hear 

 the mass : she returned when it was over, and, on entering the chamber, 

 she saw three spirits chaunting round her husband's bed. Sacra kneeled 

 down, and she there learned those fine words that none of us understand. 

 One of the spirits said to her, ' It is the Salve of purgatory ; we have 

 taught it to IVIatteo , this night he will sing it with us.' — And that night 

 IMatteo died." 



" Thus," observed the count, " Sacra is in habitual relation with 

 spirits ?" 



" They teach her the past and the future ; but she will not always 

 tell it." 



" And then, mother, how fearfiU it is to hear her speak !" 



" Pray, repeat to me some of her predictions," demanded the count. 



" I should not wish Ettore to return and overhear me ! — He had a sister : 

 when she came into the world. Sacra was beside the mother, who caressed 

 the new-born, just as much as if it was a boy — so beautiful was the 

 babe ! — ' Poor mother !' said Sacra to her, ' she will cost thee more tears 

 than thou wilt give her kisses ! This maiden will attract the men as doth 

 the rose the butterflies.' — Rosalinde grew up so beautiful, that every one 

 was in love with her ; and when the English came to Corsica, an officer 

 Rosalinde died But here is my husband." 



The host arrived with Petrino ; they sat down to table, served by the 

 two females. Lord Charles inquired where were the six sons .'' 



" Soldiers in France !" replied their entertainer. 



" What ! all your sons ? And who assists you in your work ? who 

 gets in your harvest ?" 



" The Lucquois." 



" Your six sons have been forced to serve ?" 



" No, only one was drawn ; the five others went of themselves." 



" And they left you alone }" 



" I have also served : to till the land when young is only good for the 

 Lucquois." 



" What is a Corsican who cannot manage a gun ?" said Petrino, in his 

 turn. " Look at those at Ajaccio and Bastia, with their commerce. No 

 sooner have they an enemy, than they send into the mountains for help ; 

 and, when it comes — why, peace is already made. It will be the same 

 every where. The other day, at Corte, Antonio sent for me : he had 

 received an affront ; I found him pacified. — ' Is it thus that thou art 

 avenged?' said I to him. He shewed me a lai'ge ware- room full of 

 bales, and a great portfolio full of accounts, as he replied, ' I have too 

 much to lose !' He wanted me, too, to stay, and meet his enemy at din- 

 ner. I told him to drink his disgrace by liimself." 



" Ah ! truly, that was not in the mountains !" observed Angeluccia. 

 " He who gives one affront here receives two." 



" Hold thy tongue, Angeluccia," replied the host; " you women, 

 there, are often the cause of the mischief yourselves; and if there 

 remained but three families at Canale once, it was because the quarrel 

 originated with a woman, and they meddle in all things." 



" And is it not better to see a town with thi-ee families who have kept 

 their honour, than a kingdom with a people who have lost theirs ?'' 



" Enough ! — among strangers we must not speak too much of our- 

 selves." 



