OUR SENTIMENTAL GARDEN 



instep. It was perhaps as well that the heels were high, 

 for their idea of housemaiding <a method which appertains 

 in most Italian households to this day) was first to walk 

 about with a pail and to slop water out of it over the flags 

 of the floor / then to sweep the resulting wet mess into 

 a puddle where the stone was worn most hollow or under 

 the carpet ! 



Some attempts at a housemaid's sink had been excavated 

 in the stone at the head of the stairs outside our set of 

 rooms / but there was generally a small cataract of soapy 

 water dripping down the steps, for the simple practice of 

 the donna that attended on our apartment was to stand on 

 the landing outside our doors and to shy the contents of 

 her bucket upwards. 



The delightful friend with whom we stayed, though not 

 born of the country, had fallen quite resignedly into its 

 ways. And, indeed, the castle was chiefly ruled by the 

 Princesse Mere, a chatelaine of the old school, who used to 

 arise in the grey dawn and pull the iron chain of the great 

 bell that hung outside her windows, to call the vassals to 

 their daily work. 



" Come, come ! " she was frequently heard addressing 

 some dependent or other whose movements were more 

 indolent than she approved of. " Are you here for your 

 comfort or for mine ? " 



The table was served, copiously, with singular Italian 

 dishes. There was a favourite soup with stewed quails in 

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