Sir James Croker told stories of early days in the Foreign Office and Lord Palmerston.
We sat on talking until half-past three. I then went home and read _Jane Eyre_.
_Letter from Guy Cunninghame to Mrs Caryl_
I start on Thursday and shall arrive Thursday evening. I have got rooms at the Ritz. Let us have dinner together Thursday night, and _not_ go to a play. I shall stay in Paris a week and then go for four days to Mentone. Then I shall come back to Paris for three days, and then home. I suppose we shall have to dine at the Embassy one night. George is going to the country for Easter with his sister. I want a really nice screen (a small one). You must help me to find one, not too dear. I also want something for the dining-room, which at present is coo bare.
_Sunday, March_ 29_th. Hôtel St Romain, Rue St Roch, Paris_
Went to a concert at the _Cirque d'Été_ this afternoon, not a very interesting programme. A great deal of Wagner, and _L'Après-midi d'un Faune_.
Dined by myself at a Duval. Start for Florence to-morrow morning.
_Tuesday, March_ 30_th. Villa Fersen, Florence_
Arrived this morning before luncheon after an exhausting journey second-class. In the carriage there was a soldier belonging to the _Garde Républicaine_. He said he was on duty at the Opera and had he known I was passing through Paris he could have given me a _billet de faveur_.
The Housmans' villa is at the top of a hill on the Bellosguardo side. It is rather a large house, covered with wistaria, with high windows with iron bars. It has a large empty _salon_ with a piano. A fine room for sound. The garden is beautiful.
I walked down into Florence very early in the morning. I reached the town before anything was open and met a party of men in shorts and flannels running back to a hotel. They were Eton masters taking exercise. I didn't go to any picture galleries, but I walked about the streets and went into the Duomo, an ugly building inside. I got back for luncheon.
Housman said that they must leave cards in the afternoon and take a drive in the Cascine. They went out in a carriage and pair. I went for a walk to the Boboli Gardens. At dinner Housman said they had met several friends, and he is giving a dinner-party on Sunday.