May 2 Monday, after † – From Florence, Sam wrote two notes to Miss Page, the first thanking her for her “seasick remedy” which he felt the family would benefit from since he was never seasick, and announcing he would be at Mrs. Carolyn S. Fahnstock’s “with a sample of the family.” The second note informs Miss Page that Livy had already made an engagement for the family for the following day. Sam suggested a later day. “Would 4 p.m. Monday do? — or 3.30?” [MTP]. Note: Since the following day wasn’t a Monday, these notes could not have been written May 1. Thus the MTP label is changed to after May 2. Mrs. Fahnstock and Miss Page were residents of Florence (see Nov. 8 entry).

May 2 to May 15 Sunday – Rodney writes of Sam and Livy’s enjoyment outside the hotel:

“Both Mark Twain and Olivia were enchanted by the ambience of Florence and the beauty of the Arno Valley and the surrounding Tuscan hills. So much so that before they left they made arrangements to rent, for the following winter, the Villa Viviani near Settignano just outside the city. Their short stay in Florence had been a pleasant round of luncheons and teas as the guests of Marchesa Spinola and Lady Edward Fitzmaurice and introductions to various titled Britishers. The interlude gave Mark Twain a warm feeling that he never experienced in Rome or Paris or other large European cities” [143]. (Editorial emphasis.)