Living In Italy

Mr. Osmond talked of Florence, of Italy, of the pleasures of living m the country, and of the abatements to such pleasure. There were both satisf actions and drawbacks; the drawbacks were pretty numerous; strangers were too apt to see Italy in rose-color. On the whole it was better than other countries, if one was content to lead a quiet life and take things as they come. It was very dull sometimes, but there were advantagès in living in the country which contained the most beauty. There were certain impressions that one could get only in Italy. There were others that one never got there, and one got some that were very bad. But from time to time one got a delightful one which made up for everything. He was inclined to think that Italy had spoiled a great many people; he was even fatuous enough to believe at times that he himself might have been a better man if he had spent less of his life there. It made people idle and dilettanish and second-rate; there was nothing tonic in an Italian life. One was out of the current; one was not dans Ie mouvement, as the French said; one was too far from Paris and London. "We are gloriously provincial, I assure you," said Mr. Osmond, "and I am perfecuy aware that I myself am as rusty as a key that has no lock to Ut it. It polishes me up a little to talk to you - not that I venture to pretend I can turn that very complicated lock I suspect your intellect of being! But you will be going away before 1 have seen you three times, and I shall, perhaps, never see you af ter that. That's whatit is to live in a country that people couie to. When they are disagreeable it is bad enough; when they are agreeable it ia still worse. As soon as you find you like them they are off again! I have been deceived too of ten; I have ceased to form attachments; to permit myself to feel attractions." - Tlie Portrait of a Lady.-