sibility of his accompanying me thither, inasmuch as he felt
rather fatigued with his reading, would be glad to recruit a little,
would wish to protect me on my journey to Italy, and, finally, never
having been in Rome, would like to see it, etc. He said, after we got
there he could either leave me with my sister or stay himself till the
spring, when we might all come back together.

You may imagine how enchanted I was at the bare suggestion of such a
plan. I told him nothing he could do would give me so much happiness,
and that as I had come back upon his hands in the state of dependence in
which I formerly belonged to him, it was for him to determine in what
manner the burden would be least grievous to him, least costly, and
least inconvenient; that if he thought it best I should go to my sister,
I should be thankful to do so; but that if he would come with me, I
should be enchanted.

I think, dearest Hal, that this unhoped-for prospect will yet be
realized for me. I am very fortunate in the midst of my misfortune, and
have infinite cause to be grateful for the hope of such an opportunity
of distracting my thoughts from it. Even to go alone would be far
preferable for me to remaining here, but I should have to leave my
father alone behind, and do most earnestly wish he may determine to come
with me.

Our landlord and he cannot agree about terms, and I suspect that he
would not remain in the lodgings under any circumstances on that
account. Oh! I hope we shall go together to Italy. "Dahin! Dahin!" ...

How I do wish you were sitting on this little striped sofa by me! No
offence in the world to you, my dear Dorothy (or the Virgin Martyr),
because I wish you were here too--in the first place that Hal might not
be too dissatisfied with my society; in the next place that I might
enjoy yours; and in the third place that you might benefit by both of
ours.

I remain, dearly beloved females both of yours affectionately,

FANNY.

There goes your ink-pot head over heels backward again! Oh, it has
recovered itself! Hateful little creature, what a turn it has given
me--as the housemaids say--without even succeeding in overturning
itself, which it tried to do! It is idiotic as well as malicious!

MORTIMER STREET, Tuesday.
DEAREST HAL,

I did not hear a great deal more than I told you about Bunsen at
Burnham.