{"product_id":"2940013654358","title":"The Pirate City","description":"CHAPTER ONE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOPENS THE TALE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome time within the first quarter of the present nineteenth century, a\u003cbr\u003elittle old lady--some people would even have called her a dear little\u003cbr\u003eold lady--sat one afternoon in a high-backed chair beside a cottage\u003cbr\u003ewindow, from which might be had a magnificent view of Sicilian rocks,\u003cbr\u003ewith the Mediterranean beyond.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis little old lady was so pleasant in all respects that an adequate\u003cbr\u003edescription of her is an impossibility.  Her mouth was a perfect study.\u003cbr\u003eIt was not troubled with anything in the shape of teeth.  It lay between\u003cbr\u003ea delicate little down-turned nose and a soft little up-turned chin,\u003cbr\u003ewhich two seemed as if anxious to meet in order to protect it.  The\u003cbr\u003ewrinkles that surrounded that mouth were innumerable, and each wrinkle\u003cbr\u003ewas a distinct and separate smile; so that, whether pursing or\u003cbr\u003eexpanding, it was at all times rippling with an expression of tender\u003cbr\u003ebenignity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis little old lady plays no part in our tale; nevertheless she merits\u003cbr\u003epassing introduction as being the grandmother of our hero, a Sicilian\u003cbr\u003eyouth of nineteen, who, at the time we write of, sat on a stool at her\u003cbr\u003efeet engaged in earnest conversation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Grandmother,\" said the youth in a perplexed mood, \"why won't you let\u003cbr\u003e_me_ go into the Church instead of brother Lucien?  I'm certain that he\u003cbr\u003edoes not want to, though he is fit enough, as far as education goes, and\u003cbr\u003egoodness; but you know well enough that he is desperately fond of\u003cbr\u003eJuliet, and she is equally desperate about him, and nothing could be\u003cbr\u003emore pleasant than that they should get married.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tut, child, you talk nonsense,\" said the old lady, letting a sigh\u003cbr\u003eescape from the rippling mouth.  \"Your father's dearest wish has always\u003cbr\u003ebeen to see Lucien enter the Church, and although Juliet is our adopted\u003cbr\u003echild, we do not intend to interfere with the wishes of her uncle the\u003cbr\u003eabbot, who has offered to place her in the convent of Saint Shutemup.\u003cbr\u003eAs to you taking Lucien's place,\"--here the mouth expanded\u003cbr\u003econsiderably--\"ah!  Mariano, you are too foolish, too giddy; better\u003cbr\u003efitted to be a sailor or soldier I should think--\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"How!\" interrupted Mariano.  \"Do you then estimate the profession of the\u003cbr\u003esoldier and sailor so low, that you think only foolish and giddy fellows\u003cbr\u003eare fit for it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Not so, child; but it is a school which is eminently fitted to teach\u003cbr\u003erespect and obedience to foolish and giddy fellows who are pert to their\u003cbr\u003egrandmothers.\"","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47121214800112,"sku":"2940013654358","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013654358_p0.jpg?v=1763584091","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013654358","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}