Lissa

“ But men are so very sensitive upon those points.
“‘I can hardly wait for your arrival. Mark says I act like a crazy woman whenever I speak of it. O Lissa, Lissa, Lissa! We’re out of the world here, but I am sure you will enjoy it. I hug myself with delight whenever I think of seeing you so soon.’”
Nathan paused in his reading.
“It is wonderful,” he said. “Professor Russell must have seen the entire skirmish.”
“Yes,” responded Lissa, “unless he may have heard of it in some way. Alice does not say upon what day Mark was hurt.” ”

“ Finally some one discovered it was addressed to Lissa. Another read it Alice, and still another Anna.
By this time the Professor had aroused himself, and read with little difficulty:
“Lissa, my dear sister: How long I have desired to speak with you and let you know I am near 165you. The only added happiness I could wish for in this life is recognition of my friends on earth. If you will let me converse with you, and Alice, and mother, I will improve every opportunity. I can see you, so cast away all doubt and fear, and help me to communicate with you. Believe,
Elsie.” ”

“ I believe a big Injun, Stuck-in-the-mud, or some such high-sounding name, is his especial Control; but he is not confined to one familiar. His demons are many.”
“How absurd,” laughed Lissa.
“You won’t say so after to-night. I’ll wager the best pony on the ranch you’ll be a firm convert before the evening is over. Maybe I’ll add a side-saddle, too. Eh, Lissa?”
“I’m afraid I can’t gratify you by accepting any such foolishness as that, even for the sake of the saddle, or permit you to wager upon a certainty of losing.”
“Did I ever tell you how the Professor found his wife?” Donald asked. ”

“ During the winter Thurley tired of the hysterical hikers, since they increased in number. They did not bother with such persons as Lissa or Mark or Polly. And Hobart, who was acknowledged to be the personification of public opinion, was immune from the pest. By degrees Thurley realized why Lissa was not bothered—because Lissa herself was a hysterical hiker developed to the stage of a near-genius; such transformations are too often wrought these days. ”

“ She has as good as her neighbors, 97and luxuries are only comparative, after all. It must be confessed, Lissa is not a little vain of the handsome silver, few pieces of cut-glass, and dainty napery which were among her wedding gifts, and which she can now display on occasions to the admiration and envy of her less fortunate neighbors. Only Alice, of all her neighborhood, can outshine her in this, but Mark is an army officer, and quite the great man of the place, and she cannot feel envious of one of the family. ”

“ Watching Lissa, Thurley became aware of another truth: to be an intriguer in art or any other capacity requires that one be not a fool but [293] possessed of shrewd talents and determination. It takes much time and foresight to be successful in this bent, but if one follows this doubtful path to achieving distinction one has little time left with which to pursue the ethical path of sincere work which wins its own reward.
Besides being an intriguer, Lissa reflected Mark’s fame. ”

“ Wait a year, then what you please.
[The men have been eating. Ysobel stands in door of hut holding a great bowl of beans from which the peons fill their cups. Lissa gives out the fish. Her boy, Iduso, crouches by her skirts]
Lis. [To boy] Not eat? Now you're a man? Twelve years to-day!
Fam. [Bending over Iduso] Is 't fever, Lissa?
Lis. [With sullen jealousy] Let him be, Famette.
What do you know? You've got no children. ”

“ Lissa began as they [321] bowled through the park, “to think you’d take up with the country bumpkin—really, with your career and looks and the way you’ve been keeping your hand in with Mark—” a bit of a pause here—“it seems to me you ought to play for bigger stakes than that funny storekeeper from Birge’s Corners ... aha, you are blushing! I’m glad you admit guilt. All well enough when you lived in that queer place and he was the richest man in it. It is always well enough when one knows the richest man, no matter how queer the place! ”

“ Nathan, owing to his winter employment, escaped 127the privations common to many, and Mark, also, had not to depend upon the mutability of the seasons for a livelihood.
Lissa had grown fully in the enjoyment of her home; and in the company of her bright-eyed little daughter, who pattered about the house, adding to her joy as well as care, she realized the ideal life of a mother. What is it to her that away in the East the luxuries of life are magnified, and things unessential to her are there necessities? ”

“ The cultivation of these fruits, boat-building, fishing and the preparation of rosemary essence and liqueurs are the principal resources of the islanders. Lesina (Hvar) and Cittavecchia (Starigrad) are the principal towns and seaports, having respectively 2138 and 3120 inhabitants. Lesina, the capital, contains an arsenal, an observatory and some interesting old buildings of the 16th century. It is a Roman Catholic bishopric, and the centre of an administrative district, which includes Cittavecchia, Lissa, and some small neighbouring islands. ”

“ Well, naughty one, the other evening in that box when you punished me with your irony, all my love for you returned!—Ah! how foolish we are, we women! Tell me, Guy, do you recall the glorious days we have spent? Those recollections retain their place in the heart! Has the idea of living again as in the past never occurred to you? It was so sweet!"
Lissac laughed a little nervously and trembled slightly, trying to joke but feeling himself suddenly weakening in the presence of this woman whose wrath or contemptuous smile he preferred. ”

“ When alone in my apartment, I tormented myself in forming every possible conjecture on her present abode and fate. The hermit, then, had provided for her merely from duty and friendship, and from motives purely disinterested. I certainly considered myself capable of doing any thing for such an angel, but I never could believe that another would do the same, and felt jealous at the thought that Liesli had confided her happiness to his hands and not to mine. ”

“ They will make a well-matched pair, Louisa. As you know, I hold Lisle in very high regard, not merely because he happens to be the son of the man who saved my life, but by reason of his own fine qualities. How wide is the difference between him and young Rispani!”
Later in the day he took occasion to congratulate both the young folk, with the old-fashioned courtesy which became him so well, nor did he fail at dinner to drink to their health and happiness in a bumper of the rare old Madeira which was reserved for very special occasions. ”

“ I softly pronounced the beloved name of Liesli to the silent breezes of the night; and spreading out my arms towards her vanishing figure, embraced—the hermit! I was seized with terror and astonishment, and retreated back some paces; for the contrast between the coarse and heavy garb of the anchorite, and that of the light-flowing drapery of the lovely Liesli, was too great, too overpowering. ”

“ But O the bonnet that Liza wears, it is the
summit of her pride;
A big limp feather hangs over her nose and
two more hang on either side.
There's no more stately woman than Liza,
be she the sought of a score of kings.
(Liza is a shadowy woman, selling shadowy things.) ”

“ About six months afterwards she gave birth to that same Liesli, who it appears you have already seen. Her mother devoted all her time to her education, and to instilling into her mind virtuous and pious principles; indeed her child was so beloved by every one in the place, that had she even been related to any one of our families she could not have been dearer to us. Now, since her mother is dead, she has been under the protection of the hermit, who has provided for her, and may God bless the orphan, and grant her, all her life, that happiness she so richly merits. ”

“ I inquired, describing Liesli’s appearance so exactly, that any person who had seen her but once in their life, could not have failed to recognize her again in the faithful picture I drew of her.
“Aye, aye,” continued the landlady, with a knowing smile, “there you would no doubt like to take the hermit’s place! Don’t you think she is a beautiful girl? Here, in Shwytz, we have many pretty girls, it is true, but not one so lovely. You doubtless mean Liesli, with the large black eyes, and such a sweet, amiable countenance?” ”

“ Sisa could do nothing but look at the tree.
“You are the mother of the thieves?”
“The mother of the thieves?” repeated Sisa, without comprehending.
“Where is the money your sons brought home last night?”
“Ah! the money——”
“Give us the money, and we’ll let you alone.”
“Señores,” said the unhappy woman, gathering her senses again, “my boys do not steal, even when they’re hungry; we are used to suffering. I have not seen my Crispin for a week, and Basilio did not bring home a cuarto. Search the house, and if you find a réal, do what you will with us; the poor are not all thieves.” ”

“ From harsh and shrill and clamant, the voices grew blurred and inarticulate. Bad sentences were helped out by worse gestures, and at one table Scabius expressed himself like the famous old knight in the first part of the "Soldier's Fortune" of Otway. Bassalissa and Lysistrata tried to pronounce each other's names, and became very affectionate in the attempt; and Tala, the tragedian, robed in roomy purple, and wearing plume and buskin, rose to his feet, and, with swaying gestures, began to recite one of his favourite parts. ”

“ And I'd rather die than ask him for help!"
"No one at all?" exclaimed Liss. "Do you and I mean to sit here and tell each other that we know no one in London, except the people at the theatre, and the people at your canteen, and one or two dud relations? Why not call on your old Lord Eskerley?"
Marjorie hesitated.
"I don't think I can," she said. "I have no particular claim—"
"No claim? Didn't you drive his silly old car in all weathers for nearly a year? Didn't he tell you to come back and see him whenever you had time? It's no use being modest when you're starving. ”

“ The hermit, however, who had, previously to her mother’s death, received from herself the full particulars of Liesli’s family affairs, announced to the count her death, and succeeded so far in touching his heart, that, enfeebled as he was by age and declining health, he no longer viewed the prejudices of birth with the same jealous eye as heretofore, and, at length, decided on sending for Liesli, acknowledging her as his grandchild, and the heiress to his large and extensive possessions. ”

“ What use in keeping money when the next day's fall in exchange made it act like ice in hot water? So with many shrugs of her plump, handsome shoulders Liesel continued to wrest an immediate happiness from the miserable city, and with a special sapience born of love pursued her daily and absorbing round of making her Otto and herself comfortable. They cared a great deal for each other, though the family thought Otto rather a stick and wondered how he had come to find such favor in Liesel's soft, dark eyes. ”

“ I shuddered as I thought that the old emaciated form of the anchorite, and that of the beautiful Liesli, blooming in all her charms—might be one and the same! How came he in possession of the money? Now it was I called to mind his words at parting; what could he mean by saying “those who hope to be happy on the morrow”—what should these words portend? What could the old man have to do with the blooming girl? What had the hermit of Siti to do at the flowery graves at the foot of the Mythen? Or, had the young maiden acted the character of an anchorite? ”

“ Faith, man! you are wasted to a mummy," replied Lisle, smiling sadly. "I have been winged at last," he added, pointing to his left sleeve, which was empty, and hung, attached by a loop, to a button at his breast. "It is now doing very well," he continued, "but the sight of my empty sleeve and stump will scare the ladies at Inchavon: that, though, is the least part of the affair. My soldiering is now ended: the Gordon Highlanders and Louis Lisle must part at last! 'Every bullet'—you know the adage." ”

“ By her long, loose hair and emaciated face the people recognized Sisa. The leper, feeling her touch, sprang up with a cry; but, to the horror of the crowd, she clung to his arm.
“Pray! Pray!” said she. “It is the Feast of the Dead! These lights are the souls of men. Pray for my sons!”
“Separate them! Separate them!” cried the crowd; but no one dared do it.
“Do you see the light in the tower? That is my son Basilio, ringing the bells. Do you see that other in the manse? That is my son Crispin; but I cannot go to them, because the curate is ill, and his money is lost. ”

“ She must tell him a man was not to play fast and loose with her. She must tell him she never wanted to see his face again. Then the little old voice within quavered in its high-pitched key, "Is that Lisha on the step?" Lisha was the husband dead and gone this three-score years. ”

“ Rusha Lisle would have turned Kennons into an hospital for Southern soldiers. Even when her husband, hiding for his life, was hunted and dogged by rebel soldiers, her hand fed them with food; her hand that was never known to be stretched forth in charity to the deserving; nay, the roof, forbidden by prowling rebels to shelter its master, was proffered to his enemies by its dishonored mistress.
When tried beyond reason, Duncan Lisle arose in his wrath and asserted his mastery. Well might any true woman have quailed before that uprising, but not Rusha Thornton Lisle. ”