" But grandmother overheard him and she said, "Go
a little slower, my fine fellow. Lisita might have a more brilliant future
than you think. And besides, when you, my fine grandson, are scintillating
in the world of letters and Rosa is director of the great normal school,
perhaps Lisita may be occupying a comfortable post right here in this great
house." I didn't understand the full import of these remarks, but I noticed
it had the effect of silencing my tormentor who slunk away abashed.
We would play happily in the garden until supper-time and even the grown
folks joined us in some of our games. Sometimes father would gather all of
us children around him, and we would never tire of hearing the stories of
his adventures when, as a young man, he had gone far beyond the boundaries
of France. These wonderful stories seemed so strange to us as we looked
upon our father's sad and severe countenance; but our uncles August and
Edward informed us that at one time he was the happiest and gayest of them
all.
After supper came the problem of housing us all. The boys always slept in
the hay barn. "A good preparation," said Uncle August, "for their future
training in the army.
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