very small of course—­he has not much, and my sister has nothing—­still it seems to me that they will have enough to live prudently on, and he looks out for a further appointment.  Papa ’will never again let her name be mentioned in his hearing,’ he says, but we must hope.  The dreadful business passed off better on the whole than poor Arabel expected, and things are going on as quietly as usual in Wimpole Street now.  I feel deeply for her, who in her pure disinterestedness just pays the price and suffers the loss.  She represents herself, however, to be relieved at the crisis being passed.  I earnestly hope for her sake that we may be able to get to England this year—­a sight of us will be some comfort.  Henrietta is to live at Taunton for the present, as he has a military situation there, and they are preparing for a round of visits among their many friends who are anxious to have them previous to their settling.  All this, you see, will throw me back with papa, even if I can be supposed to have gained half a step, and I doubt it.  Oh yes, dearest Miss Mitford.  I have indeed again and again thought of your ‘Emily,’ stripping the situation of ‘the favour and prettiness’ associated with that heroine.  Wiedeman might compete, though, in darlingness with the child, as the poem shows him.  Still, I can accept no omen.  My heart sinks when I dwell upon peculiarities difficult to analyse.  I love him very deeply.  When I write to him, I lay myself at his feet.  Even if I had gained half a step (and I doubt it, as I said), see how I must be thrown back by the indisposition to receive others.  But I cannot write of this subject.  Let us change it....

Madame Ossoli sails for America in a few days, with the hope of returning to Italy, and indeed I cannot believe that her Roman husband will be easily naturalised among the Yankees.  A very interesting person she is, far better than her writings—­thoughtful, spiritual in her habitual mode of mind; not only exalted, but exaltee in her opinions, and yet calm in manner.  We shall be sorry to lose her.  We have lost, besides, our friends Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvy, cultivated and refined people:  they occupied the floor above us the last winter, and at the Baths of Lucca and Florence we have seen much of them for a year past.  She published some time since a volume of ’Scottish Minstrelsy,’ graceful and flowing, and aspires strenuously towards poetry; a pretty woman with three pretty children, of quick perceptions and active intelligence and sensibility.  They are upright, excellent people in various ways, and it is a loss to us that they should have gone to Naples now.  Dearest friend, how your letter delighted me with its happy account of your improved strength.  Take care of yourself, do, to lose no ground.  The power of walking must refresh your spirits as well as widen your daily pleasures.  I am so glad.  Thank God.  We have heard from Mr. Chorley, who seems to have received very partial