Mxs. SOMEKVH 51 



peculiarities and enjoyed their company. But she 

 never gave up her work; she still economised her time, 

 and made the most of every opportunity ; and though 

 she could not rise early, as she formerly did (for her 

 application had told upon her health, and she was so 

 delicate that she had to lie in bed till mid-day), she 

 did not waste time on that account, but made a 

 practice of writing while in bed. 



The result of all this industry soon appeared. 

 Some time after the publication of her first work, 

 Mrs. Somerville brought out a second volume, almost 

 as profound as the first, and quite original. It was 

 called " The Connection of the Physical Sciences," 

 and then, in course of time, a third volume appeared 

 on " Physical Geography." The last-named of these 

 is the one by which its author is best known. 



Soon after his wife had begun to work on " Physical 

 Geography," Dr. Somerville's health failed, and the 

 family took up their residence in Italy ; they went from 

 one city to another, meeting kind friends and warm 

 admirers everywhere, and thoroughly enjoying the 

 beautiful scenery and social life of the country. As 

 was usual with them, they became intimate with the 

 " best people " wherever they pitched their tent, so 

 that the life of the great writer is to a large extent 

 made up of the story of the people whom she knew. 

 She had eyes to sec and a mind to understand all that 

 was going on around her, and so she missed nothing. 

 The after-part of every day she gave up to amusement 

 D 2 



