v? 
MALTA AND SICILY. *231 
formed, (whether correctly or not I cannot 
say,) that it is considered improper that the 
painting when first uncovered should be ex¬ 
posed to the gaze of heretic eyes before it 
has been looked upon, and perhaps adored, 
by a good Catholic. 
We spent some time in the convent gar¬ 
den. It is a large old-fashioned place, sur¬ 
rounded by beds of barren lava. As we were 
coming away, the gardener requested each 
of us to accept a pretty little nosegay of 
flowers. After carrying mine through the 
streets till I was. tired of it, I offered it to a 
girl who was sitting at an open window knitting, 
and very much astonished the young lady ap¬ 
peared. But she accepted the gift, and 
muttered some words, which I received as 
thanks. 
On returning to the hotel we found in wait¬ 
ing for us several men who had for sale little 
