252 Mary Somerville. 



was the most beautiful of the three sisters. Hers is 

 a grand countenance, such as artists love to study. 

 Gibson, whom I asked, after his return from England, 

 which he had revisited after twenty-seven years' 

 absence, what he thought of Englishwomen, replied, 

 he had seen many handsome women, but no such 

 sculptural beauty as Mrs. Norton's. I might add 

 the Marchioness of Waterford, whose bust at Mac- 

 donald's I took at first for an ideal head, till I 

 recognised the likeness. 



Lady Davy used to live a great deal at Rome, and 

 took an active part in society. She talked a great 

 deal, and talked well when she spoke English, but 

 like many of us had more pretension with regard to 

 the things she could not do well than to those she 

 really could. She was a Latin scholar, and as far as 

 reading and knowing the literature of modern 

 languages went she was very accomplished, but un- 

 fortunately, she fancied she spoke them perfectly, 

 and was never happier than when she had people of 

 different nations dining with her, each of whom she 

 addressed in his own language. Many amusing mis- 

 takes of hers in speaking Italian were current in 

 both Roman and English circles. 



***** 



A few months were very pleasantly spent one 

 summer at Perugia, where there is so much that is 



