266 ITALIAN EXILE IN ENGLAND. belongs to that class of gentry which has all the luxury and refinement of the opulent nobility, without their vices and defects. Whoever wishes to become acquainted with an education still more refined, and in a higher grade of the landed aristocracy, approaching to high life, must follow me in another narration. SEQUEL. An English Villa-Tête-a-Tête-"The Better Class." I was a visit in debt to a widow-lady, mother of two beautiful girls, through an invitation to dinner I had received. This lady's villa is situated in a delicious spot, at the foot of a hill crowned by an old and noble wood, approached by a winding, gently-sloping path across meadows, and plantations within the same enclosure. The house is protected from the wind, and from excessive heat; it is not large, in comparison with the immense and useless Italian palaces, but is sufficiently spacious for an English villa, and enjoys a view of a range of hills, irregular in form, clad with trees, and within the space that can be taken in by the eye. The quiet, the mystery of the neighbouring wood, the song of the birds, the flocks feeding in the meadows, all scem to say, "Here reigns love!" What then if I add that the two young ladies of the mansion are beautiful, graceful, and courteous, with rosy cheeks, and copious ringlets of flowing hair " Whose large blue eyes, fair locks and snowy hands" Byron. Almost every day they ride out alone with their groom, on excursions over the neighbouring country, and are sometimes present for a few moments at a foxchase, when, at reynard's first breaking cover, the shrill horn and the cry of a hundred panting hounds are heard together, and the red-coated horsemen, leaping hedge and ditch, scour the country at a headlong gallop. They have passed two or three months at Paris, speak of it with enthusiasm, and are eager to return. They speak French, and stammer a little Italian. The piano, the harp, drawing, light reading, the conservatory, and a little flower-garden cultivated with their own hands, divide the time that riding, visiting, balls, invitations, and the annual twomonths visit to London, leave them. I had selected a rainy day, that I might be sure of finding the family at home; but the English ladies pay little regard to the weather. I had not got half across the garden before I perceived the carriage, which was just on the point of setting out. I approach the door,-I am welcomed with a courtesy more than polite. The mother was in the coach, along with the younger daughter, who is also the handsomer of the two. On seeing this I went through a thousand antics, professed myself au desespoir, desolè, &c., and gave in to all the caricature we practise on the continent. The graceful F-, by way of consoling me, informed me that her sister was at home, and would be very glad to see me. This intimation recalled me to life. I should never have looked for the good fortune of such a passport;I devoured at a stride the piece of road between me and the house, I knock and reknock impatiently. A maid-servant opens the door, and invites me to walk into a |