ers can express it. We have had six glorious days in Sicily,
and it is fit that these wild ramblings of mine with the Goddess should
end here amidst such scenes of loveliness that even the imagination can
conjure up nothing more exquisite. For end these ramblings must; to be
continued, as I hope (but dare not expect), in a life-journey in which I
may wear my own name shared then by her. It is through my dear, kind,
little match-making mother that I trust this may be brought about; for
my pluck fails me when I think of confessing my imposture to the
Goddess.

I told you in my letter from Rome that at the hotel there I found a
forwarded letter from the mater, saying that on account of the continued
rain and cold she and the inevitable Barrows had determined to leave
Rome suddenly and go to Naples, perhaps to Sicily, in search of
sunshine. She added that she had been worried about me, as she had not
heard anything for weeks, from which it is clear that at least three
letters have somehow miscarried--doubtless owing to her constant change
of address and the carelessness of hotel people in forwarding. The worst
of it is that I haven't been able to reassure her mind, as she gave me
no new address, but merely said that when she was settled she would
wire. Of course, I gave the hall-porter at the "Grand" the most explicit
directions as to where I was to be found, and tipped him well. The
result is that on my arrival here in Taormina I found a telegram (sent
on from Rome) to say that my mother and the Barrows will arrive here
to-morrow to stay a week with Sir Evelyn Haines, an old friend of the
mater's, who has, I believe, bought a deserted monastery and turned it
into a fine house. To-morrow, then, my mother will be here; I shall tell
her everything, throw myself on her mercy, and get her to make peace for
me with the Goddess. That, at least, is my present plan. But who can
tell how events may upset it?

Well, as you don't know Italy south of Naples, perhaps you'd like to
hear something of our Sicilian adventures. Of adventures, in the strict
sense, we have had less here than in other places. If I hadn't been
certain that the country was quite safe as far as brigandage is
concerned, I should not have been such a fool as to bring two ladies
through it in a motor-car. But we have had, as I said, "six glorious
days," and the Goddess and I are agreed that in many ways Sicily is the
best thing we have done on our whole long tour.