Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/360

370 rake up from the deep, with iron hands, these precious growths of the ocean. The shores of the island are rich in these as well as in every kind of frutti di mare. We saw, at the city of Ischia, the magnificent Marine Reale, beautiful plantations of trees, and the King of Naples with his court. He is a large man and was talking with animation.

We returned to our Villa, after our voyage round the island had occupied about nine hours.

The day before yesterday we had a violent storm, and it was as cold as autumn, the same also yesterday, so that we are obliged to wait for better weather before leaving our enchanted island, if, in truth, the enchantress be present there. She endeavors, indeed, to console and enchant us with glorious sunlights in the evenings, sights of such splendor and magnificence that one feels a solemnity in them, as if they revealed a divinity. Nevertheless, I have not entire faith in her; and certain it is, that Hercules becomes every day fonder of “that child,” as he calls little Elsa, who rules him without herself being aware of it; nay, even against her will, for she does not love him, and tells him so, but—nevertheless he is not intending to go to the East. On the contrary he will, à toute force, accompany us across to Sorrento in order to take charge of us on the way, and after that return hither till——what further happens. And one cannot refuse such a protector.

I must add to the romantic incidents of my month's residence at Ischia, a letter from my winter-daughter, my young Swedish friend, who announces to me her betrothal with young Baron S——; another letter