Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/174

 them. In my life I never heard such singing as the dear little woman’s; her voice quite filled the great hall, and how anything so fresh and round comes out of that poor little crooked body I cannot guess. She was very good-natured about it, and sat leaning on her little crutch, singing without accompaniment the wildest and most touching German and Swiss songs. It was really pleasant, but I cannot divine how I can ever hear enough of her.

Monday 25th. We are to have our great Queen’s ball this evening, and everything looks very well prepared; at least all the marble halls are full of supper tables, and I see the ball-rooms upstairs are painted all over Queen’s arms, and Company’s arms, and his Lordship’s arms; and Giles is rushing all over them with about two hundred coolies, carrying sofas and ottomans, and I dare say when those black individuals withdraw the effect will be excellent. At present, from the glimpse I caught coming up from luncheon of all these undressed artificers, the effect was rather savage than imposing. I am going to introduce singing at supper, which will be a