Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904Waddington, Mary King
General
Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904
Waddington, Mary King
Rome (Italy) -- Social life and customs
were very strict, very narrow-minded, in fact, rather Calvinistic. She
kept W. until she went away, early--about ten--as she was tired. She has
an extraordinary charm of manner. Her way of taking leave of us was so
pretty and gracious. She dines quietly at the British Embassy to-morrow
night, and when Lady Paget asked her who she would have, said: "Cardinal
Howard and Mr. Story." She wants to see all manner of men.
Yesterday we made our first excursion to Frascati, and most unpleasant
it was. We had chosen our day so as to have Charles Bunsen with us, and
one also when we had nothing in the evening, as one is so tired after
being out all day. We started about 9--in the carriage--W. and I, Gert
and Charles. It looked grey (was perfectly mild) and rather threatening,
but the hotel man and coachman assured us we should have no rain--merely
a covered day which would be more agreeable than the bright sun.
Schuyler promised to come out by train for breakfast. The drive out was
delicious, out of the Porta San Giovanni, the whole road lined with
tombs, arches, ruined villas, always the aqueducts on one side, and the
blue hills directly in front of us. The sun came out occasionally
through little bits of white clouds, and the Campagna looked enchanting,
almost alive. We passed close to the Osteria del Pino--where the meet
used to be often in old hunting days. It was so familiar as we drove up
the steep hill and recognised all the well-known places--the Pallavicini
villa at the side of the road, half-way up the hill; the Torlonia
gardens, and the gateway of the funny little town. We went straight to
the hotel, the same one as in our day, Albergo di Londra (that shows
what a haunt of "forestieri" it is), ordered breakfast, and then sallied
out for a walk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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