Almost two months since my last date rather restless two months too for ourselves as well as poor Italy. We left Turin early in January for Florence being satisfied that during these transition-weeks I, if not my husband, might as well be there as here. We went by rail to Genoa thence by vetturino to Spezia and a more delightful journey could not well have been. Edward & Carrie were so charmed with the country, the climate - in short every thing. The air, as soon as we passed out from the last tunnel near Genoa was as soft as May in N. E. & the roses were shining on every hedge-top. At Nervi we stopped to enquire for for [sic] Mme Rothan, who early as it was, came out to the carriage herself to greet us, & looking as lovely as the human angel that she is. How the oranges glowed in the sunshine of the Jan. morning! At Spezia we passed the second night from Genoa and the next morning took the railway for Pisa. Here we spent a day for the sake of the young people who had never been there, and to give ourselves a chance to see Lady St Germains, the sister of Lady Estcourt. We found her feeble in body and sad in spirit, the wreck of a beautiful woman, whose lack of moral energy has made her the prey of spongers & harpies of all sorts. She was much affected when she spoke of her friends in England, but there were jealous dependants in the room observing every look, listening to every word, and she dared not be more definite than to say that she had many troubles & that if we were once settled in Florence she might venture to ask our advice. Poor thing, it too late I fear to do any for her - either to save her fortune or get her out of the hands of her false friends. After our visit to Lady St Germain, we went to see the Guido at I forget what palace close to our hotel. It represents a Cupid vanquished, bound, deprived of his arrows by a larger & more angelic Love who stoops to commit them to the flames - a most divine picture. By a chage change in the trains of which even the hotels were not notified, we missed the convoglio for Flor. and were detained another da night in Pisa. Early in the morning of the 9th we were on our way to F. Alex__ made another mistake, put into the wrong line and we lost Pistoia which we wished E. to see. It rained hard however and it was of little consequence which route we took.