se was open to a
little confusion? I know that you will. He had to hear many violent
reproaches from his fellow-students. These have ceased. I send this
letter on the chance of the first being lost on the road; and it will
supplement the first pleasantly to you in any event. She lies here in the
room where I write, propped on high pillows, the right arm bound up, and
says: 'Tell Merthyr I prayed to be in Rome with my husband, and him, and
the Chief. Tell him I love my friend. Tell him I think he deserves to be
in Rome. Tell him--' Enter Countess Ammiani to reprove her for
endangering the hopes of the house by fatiguing herself. Sandra sends a
blush at me, and I smile, and the countess kisses her. I send you a
literal transcript of one short scene, so that you may feel at home with
us.

"There is a place called Venice, and there is a place called Rome, and
both places are pretty places and famous places; and there is a thing
called the fashion; and these pretty places and famous places set the
fashion: and there is a place called Milan, and a place called Bergamo,
and a place called Brescia, and they all want to follow the fashion, for
they are giddy-pated baggages. What is the fashion, mama? The fashion, my
dear, is &c. &c. &c.:--Extract of lecture to my little daughter, Amalia,
who says she forgets you; but Giacomo sends his manly love. Oh, good God!
should I have blood in my lips when I kissed him, if I knew that he was
old enough to go out with a sword in his hand a week hence? I seem every
day to be growing more and more all mother. This month in front of us is
full of thunder. Addio!"

When Merthyr stood in sight of Milan an army was issuing from the gates.

CHAPTER XLI

THE INTERVIEW

Merthyr saw Laura first. He thought that Vittoria must be lying on her
couch: but Laura simply figured her arm in a sling, and signified, more
than said, that Vittoria was well and taking the air. She then begged
hungrily for news of Rome, and again of Rome, and sat with her hands
clasped in her lap to listen. She mentioned Venice in a short breath of
praise, as if her spirit could not repose there. Rome, its hospitals, its
municipal arrangements, the names of the triumvirs, the prospects of the
city, the edicts, the aspects of the streets, the popularity of the
Government, the number of volunteers ranked under the magical
Republic--of these things Merthyr talked, at her continual instigation,
till, stopping abruptly, he