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MEXICO. 



space in the middle of the room seemed to be al- 

 lotted as a play-ground for the children of the 

 house, and those of many removes in consangui- 

 nity. The nurses too, and the old servants of 

 the family, used the privilege of walking in and 

 out; and sometimes they addressed such of the 

 company as happened to be seated near the door. 

 It may be remarked here, that in all those coun- 

 tries a degree of familiarity is allowed between the 

 servants and their superiors, of which in England 

 there is no example in any rank of life. 



The entrance to the room was from a deep 

 verandah, or, more properly speaking, a passage 

 open to the court and flower-garden in the centre 

 of the quadrangle forming the house. 



It occurred to me during the evening, that if 

 a person were suddenly transported from Eng- 

 land to this party, he might be much puzzled to 

 say where he had got to. On entering the house, 

 by an approach not unlike the arched gateway of 

 an inn, he would turn into the verandah, where 

 he would in vain inquire his way from one of the 

 boys playing at bo-peep round the columns, or 

 scampering in the moon-light amongst the shrubs 



