Suffolk) countrymen
he would say, 'Why, that's a Danish word.' By and by the man
would use another peculiar expression, 'Why, that's Saxon'; a
little later on another, 'Why, that's French.' And he would
add, 'Why, what a wonderful man you are to speak so many
languages.' One man got very angry, but Mr. Borrow was quite
unconscious that he had given any offence. He spoke a great
number of languages, and at the Exhibition of 1851, whither he
went with his stepdaughter, he spoke to the different
foreigners in their own language, until his daughter saw some
of them whispering together and looking as if they thought he
was 'uncanny,' and she became alarmed and drew him away. He,
however, did not like to hear the English language adulterated
with the introduction of foreign words. If his wife or friends
used a foreign word in conversation, he would say, 'What's
that, trying to come over me with strange languages.'

I have gone for many a walk with him at Oulton. He used to go
on, singing to himself or quite silent, quite forgetting me
until he came to a high hill, when he would turn round, seize
my hand, and drag me up. Then he would sit down and enjoy the
prospect. He was a great lover of nature, and very fond of his
trees. He quite fretted if, by some mischance, he lost one. He
did not shoot or hunt. He rode his Arab at times, but walking
was his favourite exercise. He was subject to fits of nervous
depression. At times also he suffered from sleeplessness, when
he would get up and walk to Norwich (25 miles), and return the
next night recovered. His fondness for the gypsies has been
noticed. At Oulton he used to allow them to encamp in his
grounds, and he would visit them, with a friend or alone, talk
to them in Romany, and sing Romany songs. He was very fond of
ghost stories and believed in the supernatural. He was keenly
sympathetic with any one who was in trouble or suffering. He
was no man of business and very guileless, and led a very
harmless, quiet life at Oulton, spending his evenings at home
with his wife and stepdaughter, generally reading all the
evening. He was very hospitable in his own home, and detested
meanness. He was moderate in eating and drinking, took very
little breakfast, but ate a very great quantity at dinner, and