248 Mary Somerville. 



bano as housemaid, who was much admired by 

 our English friends in her scarlet cloth bodice, 

 trimmed with gold lace, and the silver spadone, or 

 bodkin, fastening her plaits of dark hair ; but she 

 very soon exchanged her picturesque costume for a 

 bonnet, etc., in which she looked clumsy and 

 commonplace. 



[The following are extracts from letters written from 

 Albano by my mother : 



FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO HER SON W. GREIG, ESQ. 



ALBANO, IGtk June, 1841. 



I was thankful to hear, my dearest Woronzow, 

 from your last letter that Agnes is recovering so 



well We are very much pleased 



with our residence at Albano ; the house, with its high 

 sounding name of " Villa," is more like a farmhouse, with 

 brick floors and no carpets, and a few chairs and tables, 

 but the situation is divine. We are near the top of the 

 hill, about half-a-mile above Albano, and have the most 

 magnificent view in every direction, and such a variety 

 of delightful walks, that we take a new one every 

 evening. For painting it is perfect ; every step is a 

 picture. At present we have no one near, and lead the 

 life of hermits ; but our friends have loaded us with 

 books, and with drawing, painting, music, and writing, 

 we never have a moment idle. Almost every one has left 

 Rome ; but the English have all gone elsewhere, as they 

 are not so easily pleased with a house as we are. The 



