Pagina 7 van 483

He strove to shelter her, as a fair exotic is sheltered by the

gardener, from every rougher wind and to surround her with all

that could tend to excite pleasurable emotion in her soft and

benevolent mind. Her health, and even the tranquillity of her

hitherto constant spirit, had been shaken by what she had gone

through. During the two years that had elapsed previous to their

marriage my father had gradually relinquished all his public

functions; and immediately after their union they sought the

pleasant climate of Italy, and the change of scene and interest

attendant on a tour through that land of wonders, as a

restorative for her weakened frame.