Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/164

174 girls were very pretty. Prettiest of all was our charming hostess. We had music at the piano. A young Italian maestro sang like a “thousand devils,” to use the expression of Sergel; another sang languishing ballads, but without truth or nature. Two English ladies, a mother and daughter, sang beautifully some of Thomas Moore's sentimental songs, and lastly, our hostess, who is thoroughly musical, a German folk's-song, which she sang excellently, with all its freshness and inspiration. The very air of the forest seemed for a moment to be wafted through the room. Monsignore L——o was enchanted by the music, and laying his hand on his breast, he gave himself up to its inspiration. He told me a good deal about Calabria, of which he is a native, and also various things connected with the religious orders and brotherhoods in Rome, which were interesting to me.

Trinita di Monte—Conversion—Audience of the Pope—A little about the Pope and St. Peter—The Grand-Duchess Helena—Four Cardinals—Conversation of a Nun—Lent Sermons—The Carmelite Monk—Père Marie Louis—The Drive to Frascati and Tivoli—The Holy Week—An Abjuration—Festival and Danger—Retraite i Sacré Coeur—Conversion-fight, in evil and in good—Still an abjuration — Removal to the Capitol—New Life—Little discoveries and experiences—The Catholic Church during the month of May—My Resume—Departure from Rome. , February 25th.—Adjoining the Piazza, di Spagna, stands, upon its lofty, wooded terrace, the