But we did not, because of the Papistry of the house, see a great deal of the neighbours, or they of us.

The parson of Hormead came to see us now and again, and behaved very civilly: but during those six weeks we had no sight of a priest, except once when we rode to Standon to hear mass.
After dinner, I gave myself up to writing; for I thought that I could best serve His Holiness in this way, making my diary each day in shorthand (as I had learned from an Italian); and it is from that very diary that this narrative is composed; and I wrote too a report or two, apologizing for the poverty of it, which I determined to send to the Cardinal Secretary as soon as I had an opportunity.

I read too a little Italian or Spanish or French every day; and thus, for the most part kept to my chamber.

But all my papers I put away each afternoon in the little hiding-place in my chamber; and made excuse for keeping my room on the score of my practice in languages.
We supped at five o'clock--which was the country hour; and after that, to me, came the best part of the day.
For my Cousin Dorothy, I had learned, was an extraordinary fine musician.

We had, of course, no music such as was possible in town; but she had taught a maid to play upon a fiddle, and herself played upon the bass-viol; and the two together would play in the Great Chamber after supper for an hour or two, when the dishes were washed.