44 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HKR 



sort of fear or reserve which I used to feel at 

 the sight of a ne\v face ; and now that I have 

 learned to listen attentively to conversation, I see 

 what amusement, as well as knowledge, one may 

 gain from the mixture of characters to be met 

 with in society. Indeed, every day shews me 

 how much real goodness there is, though of va- 

 rious kinds, among people who at first sight seem 

 only intent on their own affairs. 



I am sure that I at least have received a great 

 deal of kindness in my short life and particu- 

 larly since I have ceased to be what you used to 

 call farouche. 



23rd. This day has been remarkably cold 

 and wet, and stormy ; nothing could appear more 

 dreary ; and when I looked out, I persuaded my- 

 self that I felt quite melancholy. We had, not- 

 withstanding, been all as cheerful as usual, and 

 had contrived plenty of amusements for our- 

 selves, in addition to shuttlecock, which warms 

 one so comfortably ; but this very dark and 

 gloomy day we could scarcely distinguish our 

 little feathery plaything after three o'clock. 



In the evening Mrs. P. taught us a new way 

 of capping verses, which is a little more difficult, 

 but I think much more amusing than the com- 

 mon method. Instead of each person being con- 

 fined to a single line, as much of a poem is to 

 be repeated as will complete the sense ; and the 



