 dine here the day after to-morrow. Does it
astonish you? You started.«
    »I did not hear the invitation.«
    »It was arranged at the table: you and I were separated - cruelly, I told
her: she declared that we see enough of one another, and that it was good for me
that we should be separated; neither of which is true. I may not have known what
is the best for me: I do know what is good. If in my younger days I egregiously
erred, that, taken of itself alone, is, assuming me to have sense and feeling,
the surer proof of present wisdom. I can testify in person that wisdom is pain.
If pain is to add to wisdom, let me suffer! Do you approve of that, Lætitia?«
    »It is well said.«
    »It is felt. Those who themselves have suffered should know the benefit of
the resolution.«
    »One may have suffered so much as to wish only for peace.«
    »True: but you! have you?«
    »It would be for peace, if I prayed for an earthly gift.«
    Sir Willoughby dropped a smile on her. »I mentioned the Pope's
parti-coloured body-guard just now. In my youth their singular attire impressed
me. People tell me they have been re-uniformed: I am sorry. They remain one of
my liveliest recollections of the Eternal City. They affected my sense of
humour, always alert in me, as you are aware. We English have humour. It is the
first thing struck in us when we land on the Continent: our risible faculties
are generally active all through the tour. Humour, or the clash of sense with
novel examples of the absurd, is our characteristic. I do not condescend to
boisterous displays of it. I observe, and note the people's comicalities for my
correspondence. But you have read my letters - most of them, if not all?«
    »Many of them.«
    »I was with you then! - I was about to say - that Swiss-guard reminded me -
you have not been in Italy. I have constantly regretted it. You are the very
woman, you have the soul for Italy. I know no other of whom I could say it, with
whom I should not feel that she was out of place, discordant with me. Italy and
Lætitia! often have I joined you together. We shall see. I begin to have hopes.
Here you have literally stagnated. Why
