because I must take the children with me, since I
cannot divide my household. The other day, when
I went there to bring poor Count Galeotto's little
son, I left Gio. Martino in charge, and when I
returned I found all the servants in the greatest
indignation. He had given kicks and bad words to
men and women alike, and turned everything upside
down, so that I cannot run the risk of such a dis-
turbance again. But perhaps our Lord God will turn
the heart of this youth. Pantaleone has been
advised by the doctor to take baths, so he will be
leaving us, and the son of Maestro Antonio has had
to go to Mantua, as I wrote before, on account of his
father's illness. This is rather unsettling for Camillo,
but he reads over what he has learnt every day, and
I keep an eye on him. Anna goes on saying the
office daily and reading Donatus. With Ippolita
one can do little, unless she chooses to learn. I am
careful to look after the plantations and fruit-trees,
and hope you will be much pleased with these,
especially with the shrubs, which are doing very well.
Several of the fruit-trees have suffered from the
drought, but I will have them replanted before the
winter, and hope they will recover. I am glad to
hear that you have good melons and peaches, which
is more than we can say. Here at Casatico the
melons are very poor and the peaches not yet ripe,
which may be just as well for the children's health.' ¹

A few weeks later Camillo fell ill with a fever and
rash, and the anxious grandmother was filled with
alarm, and thought of taking the child to Mantua
for advice. Eventually, however, she sent to town
for a young doctor, who prescribed simple remedies,
and ordered the child to be rubbed with oil, and in
course of time both fever and rash disappeared.

The affairs of the unfortunate Ippolita Terzo were

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