Roman Catholic faith two years before, she entered with the greater
ardor on the study of the Piedmontese dialect, and the observation of
the habits and manners of the peasantry. In the former she soon became a
proficient; and on the latter head, I extract from her familiar letters,
written home to England at the time, two pleasant pieces of description.

A BETROTHAL.

"We have been to a ball, of which I must give you a description. Last
Tuesday we had just done dinner at about seven, and stepped out into the
balcony to look at the remains of the sunset behind the mountains, when
we heard very distinctly a band of music, which rather excited my
astonishment, as a solitary organ is the utmost that toils up here. I
went out of the room for a few minutes, and on my returning, Emily
said,--

"'Oh! that band is playing at the farmer's near here. The daughter is
_fiancee_ to-day, and they have a ball.'

"I said,--

"'I wish I was going!'

"'Well,' replied she, 'the farmer's wife did call to invite us.'

"'Then I shall certainly go,' I exclaimed.

"I applied to Madame B., who said she would like it very much, and we
had better go, children and all. Some of the servants were already gone.
We rushed away to put on some shawls, and put off any shred of black we
might have about us, (as the people would have been quite annoyed, if we
had appeared on such an occasion with any black,) and we started. When
we reached the farmer's, which is a stone's throw above our house, we
were received with great enthusiasm; the only drawback being, that no
one spoke French, and we did not yet speak Piedmontese. We were placed
on a bench against the wall, and the people went on dancing. The room
was a large whitewashed kitchen, (I suppose,) with several large
pictures in black frames, and very smoky. I distinguished the 'Martyrdom
of Saint Sebastian,' and the others appeared equally lively and
appropriate subjects. Whether they were Old Masters or not, and if so,
by whom, I could not ascertain. The band were seated opposite us. Five
men, with wind instruments, part of the band of the National Guard, to
which the farmer's sons belong. They played really admirably, and I
began to be afraid that some idea of our dignity would prevent my
getting a partner; so, by Madame B.'s advice, I went up to the bride,
and offered to dance with her. Such a handsome young woman! Like one of
Uwins's pictures. Very dark, with a quantity of black hair, and