I call that a generous deed! He died poor and
unnoticed, but now his people make an idol of him, and his statue is
one of the sights of Lisbon."
"Did he live here?" asked Faith. "That is, when he was not in exile?"
"Yes, this was his home."
"And his poem was the Lusiad," added Mrs. Vanderhoff.
"Why, I've heard of that!" cried Dwight. "We had something about it in
our Rhetoric."
"And here," said Mr. Lawrence, pointing down a street into which they
had turned, "you catch your first glimpse of his statue. Poor fellow!
I wonder if he knows of the tardy recognition, wherever he is now?"
They stood some time before this monument to an unfortunate genius,
then started on a lively exploration of the streets and shops, which
was perhaps more interesting to the ladies than to their escort. At
any rate it was with something like a sigh of relief that he at length
glanced at his watch, and declared it was time to meet the captain in
the Place of Commerce, close by.
This is a conspicuous square in Lisbon, and they had already visited
some of its arcaded shops, but without taking special note of its
attractions. Now they had leisure to stroll about and admire the fine
public buildings, and the exquisite flowers and foliage. Quite
suddenly they came upon the captain who was, to the great astonishment
of his daughters, walking leisurely about in company with Lady Moreham
and Mrs. Poinsett. They all stopped to exchange greetings, and finally
wandered over to the open side of the square, where is a fine view of
the Tagus, with its varied shipping and busy shores.
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