October 30 Sunday – In Florence, Sam sent a postscript to Laurence Hutton, consisting of a six-line verse, headed, “Respectfully Dedicated to the Author of the ‘Rhyme of the Guileless Gondolier’” [MTP].

Susy Clemens wrote to Louise Brownell:

I am getting more expert at warding off loneliness. When the Kings go I shall be almost entirely alone because Mamma is on her sofa resting much of the time and Papa at work I am going to be prepared. I shall have two new companions ready, a shale gray kitten and the gardener’s baby which I shall borrow occasionally and carry up here to spend the afternoon with me.

Today has been a lovely Sunday. We had a rare sermon this morning — a hopeful vigorous stirring sermon which will stay with us long….

Mademoiselle L. [Lançon] has turned out contrary to our expectations, very aggressive and trying to live with. It is hard for me not to lose my temper with her. But so far our relations are ostensibly cordial.

After her signature, “O.S.C.” she added:

Oh what are your relations with my cousin Julia Langdon? I am eaten up with curiosity to know. She leads me to believe you are bosom friends. How is this? [Cotton 101174-7].

Note: Though undated and postmarked Nov. 7, it is judged to be written this day. The King sisters left about this week and Susy’s reference puts it in the future; plus, most of these letters are postmarked sometime after they were written, which begs the question, why? Perhaps Susy held them for some purpose, since there was mail delivery daily at the Villa. Given the gushing, amorous text of many of these letters (mostly ignored here in favor of historical items), did she try to hide their frequency from her parents?