nnot help falling back on that continually: and this, combined with
the peculiar difficulties of the story for a Christmas book, and my
being out of sorts, discourages me sadly. . . . Kate is here, and sends her
love.". . . A postscript was added on the following day. "Georgy has come
over from Lausanne, and joins with Kate, &c. &c. My head remains greatly
better. My eye is recovering its old hue of beautiful white, tinged with
celestial blue. If I hadn't come here, I think I should have had some
bad low fever. The sight of the rushing Rhone seemed to stir my blood
again. I don't think I shall want to be cupped, this bout; but it
looked, at one time, worse than I have confessed to you. If I have any
return, I will have it done immediately."

He stayed two days longer at Geneva, which he found to be a very good
place; pleasantly reporting himself as quite dismayed at first by the
sight of gas in it, and as trembling at the noise in its streets, which
he pronounced to be fully equal to the uproar of Richmond in Surrey; but
deriving from it some sort of benefit both in health and in writing. So
far his trip had been successful, though he had to leave the place
hurriedly to welcome his English visitors to Rosemont.

One social and very novel experience he had in his hotel, however, the
night before he left, which may be told before he hastens back to
Lausanne; for it could hardly now offend any one even if the names were
given. "And now sir I will describe, modestly, tamely, literally, the
visit to the small select circle which I promised should make your hair
stand on end. In our hotel were Lady A, and Lady B, mother and daughter,
who came to the Peschiere shortly before we left it, and who have a deep
admiration for your humble servant the inimitable B. They are both very
clever. Lady B, extremely well-informed in languages, living and dead;
books, and gossip; very pretty; with two little children, and not yet
five and twenty. Lady A, plump, fresh, and rosy; matronly, but full of
spirits and good looks. Nothing would serve them but we _must_ dine with
them; and accordingly, on Friday at six, we went down to their room. I
knew them to be rather odd. For instance, I have known Lady A, _full
dressed_, walk alone through the streets of Genoa, the squalid Italian
bye streets, to the Governor's soiree; and announce herself at the
palace of state, by knocking at the door. I have also met Lady B, full
dressed, without any cap or