and honesty of principle. To me the hermitage had seemed too favourably situated and too well adapted for pursuing, under the mask of sanctity, a very different plan in private. “Strangers or such persons,” continued my landlady, “with whom he felt dissatisfied, he treated in a distant and harsh manner, but such as he knew, and was satisfied with, whatever their condition, he addressed in a more confidential and friendly tone.” This reminded me how laconic his manner had been, at the commencement of our conversation, and how brief were his replies; and I felt satisfied and pleased to think, that he had afterwards shewn me more confidence aad kindness.
“Is the young person whom I have sometimes seen in his company a relation of his?” 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?”
“Yes,” I replied, overjoyed at being able to converse with some one on the sweet topic of my Liesli, “who, who is she, pray?”
“Why, nobody can tell. On the first of October, so far as I can remember, during the unhappy period of the war in 1799, when Suwarow and Mortier, with Soult and Massena, laid waste the whole country with their armies, a most furious and bloody skirmish took place in the valley of Mutta. About a mile from hence is situated, as you no doubt know, the bridge of Ibach. The Russians had advanced as far as this bridge, where, however, they were surprised by General Lecourbe, who having landed at Brunnen, fell upon their rear, and put them all to rout. It was shortly after the termina-
