“I travelled from Chambery to Lyons all alone in a _coupée_ with an Italian lady! Horrid situation! and what made it worse was, that the poor thing was very tired this morning, and fell fast asleep, and whilst in a state of oblivion, dropped her head comfortably on to my arm. After revolving in my mind this alarming state of things, I thought it would be best to feign to be asleep myself; and accordingly, when we jolted over a gutter, and she awoke with a start, she found me with my eyes shut, and snoring. I hope I acted it well, but could hardly help laughing. I shortly afterwards rubbed my eyes and awoke, and she gave me a roll and some chocolate, for which I was very thankful; so I suppose she approved of my conduct.” He returned entirely restored to health, and so good an Italian scholar, that he was able to write fluently in the language, and to dedicate the little objects of art, which he brought home as presents, in appropriate verse. One of these was an inkstand in the shape of an owl, now very common, which he presented to Lady Salusbury, a kinswoman of your grandfather, to whose adopted daughter he had lately engaged himself, with this inscription:— “‘La stolidezza copresi talvolta di sembiante Savio; siccome per dar ricovero all’ inchi ostro Si fodera con piombo la civelta di bronzo Immago dell’ uccello di sapienza.’ “Ecco la finta pompa dell’ uccello! Il quale, sotto ’l grave e savio viso Avendo pur di piombo il cervello Fra i tutti poi commuove il forte riso— “Così si trova dal sembiante bello Talvolta lo bel spirito diviso, Si trova con la roba da Dottore Di piombo pur la testa, ed anch’ il cuore.” To the young lady herself he wrote on his return: “I have continued writing a journal, and you will be astonished to hear that your name is not once mentioned in it. It is, however, written in invisible ink across every page. It may be absurd, but I consider my feelings towards you so sacred, that I should not like to parade them even to my nearest relations.” CHAPTER IX. _MIDDLE LIFE._ On his return from his Italian tour my brother at once commenced practice in the Ecclesiastical Courts, and took a small house in Bell Yard, Doctors’ Commons, where he went to reside, and which he describes to his mother as follows:— “_April 1851._—I am in excellent health and spirits. I have a funny little house here: there are three floors and two rooms on each: then there is a ground-floor, the front room of which I use as an office, and the back room as a bath room, for I stick diligently to the cold-water system. A kitchen below completes my establishment. I have a housekeeper, who sits downstairs in the kitchen and sleeps in the top story; she is miraculously clean and tidy, and cooks very well, although I never dine at home. She is also a wonderful gossip.”