6 LETTERS TO MARCO i 



nights I often hear them, as well as from up 

 above my head the curious cries of passing 

 birds, probably some sort of wild ducks. I 

 no longer come across toads when gardening ; 

 they have no doubt betaken themselves to 

 their winter quarters amidst piles of swept-up 

 leaves or manure-heaps ; in such places I have 

 discovered them in the winter or spring 

 snugly ensconced. 



This summer a very successful and pic- 

 turesque open-air fete was given by Lord and 

 Lady Wantage at Lockinge, about twelve 

 miles from here, to which we went. The 

 guests were all dressed in the costume of the 

 time of Queen Elizabeth. The weather was 

 very fine, and there were processions and 

 pageants got up with great taste and skill. 

 The grounds and park were well suited for 

 the purpose. The servants and peasants added 

 to the effect, for they also were in appropriate 

 dresses. There was a quaint car with alle- 

 gorical figures in it, drawn by oxen with 

 gilt horns and adorned with garlands, which 



