March 26 Sunday – Sam was en route on the Kaiser Wilhelm II to New York. Sam’s notebook on board: Sunny & beautiful. No sea. [NB 33 TS 4].

Meanwhile, in Florence, Livy wrote to Sam:

Youth my darling: How I should like to be out at sea with you today. It is here absolute perfection, a little cooler than yesterday which was about like July.

Mrs. Laffan came up to luncheon yesterday and we took her down. Mr. Laffan had just arrived at the hotel when we reached there. Now I shall take no more care about her. I have asked them to come up any time when it might suit them. I have this morning paid the carriage bill for the month. The children have gone to church, this afternoon they go to Mrs. Fahnestocks. So we move along.

Dr. Baldwin told me yesterday that Mrs. Fahnestock liked so much the picture of you that she was going to have one struck off for herself. I don’t know about letting people buy yoru picture in that way.

The gaiety casued by the arrival of the Queen, if there is any, does not reach us.

Susy went yesterday in to a little tea at Mr. Macauleys. Tomorrow she has a few young girls at luncheon at wich time Jean & I will take our luncheon in my bed-room.

My own darling, how I do love you and long to see you but we are doing well. Be sure & go to see in Hartford, the Baldwins, Trumbulls, Bunces, Beechers, Lanhams and of course all the friends in the neighborhood. I wish you could call at the Porters & Chamberlains. Ask Annie Trumbull if she had two letters from me. Give my love to all the friends. I hope you will find Harmony better…[The Twainian Nov-Dec 1977 p.2].