LEAVE TAKING. 



301 



was rather curious to see whether an exception 

 might not for once be made ; and stood in wait- 

 ing, by the side of the door^ to see them off. 

 First the master of the house mounted his horse ; 

 then his wife's mother ; next a venerable aunt ; 

 the most courteous and formal Adioses were in- 

 terchanged between us. The lady herself now 

 stepped out, and to my surprise held out both her 

 hands, and took her leave with a carino, as they 

 call it, far beyond my expectation. The little girl 

 was last, and having such an example before her, 

 took upon her to forget the formalities of her 

 country, and with a frank sincerity, came up and 

 offered me her hand. 



1^^ of June 1822. — This day broke with an un- 

 wonted gloom overshadowing everything : a dense 

 black haze rested like a high wall round the hori- 

 zon : while the upper sky, so long without a single 

 speck, was stained all over with patches of shape- 

 less clouds flying in different directions. As the 

 sun rose he was attended by vapours and clouds, 

 which concealed him from our sight. The sea- 

 wind, which used to begin gently, and then gra- 

 dually increase to a pleasant breeze, came on sud- 

 denly, and with great violence ; so that the waves 



