as you may suppose:  they are exactly opposite us, at twelve or fifteen feet distance only.  Through sentimentality and economy combined, Isa would have no nurse (an imbecile arrangement), and all has been done by her, with me to help:  I have sate up four nights out of the last five, and sometimes been there nearly all day beside....[55] He is much better to-day, taken broth, and will, I hope, have no relapse, poor fellow:  imagine what a pleasant holiday we all have!  Otherwise the place is very beautiful, and cool exceedingly.  We have done nothing notable yet, but all are very well, Peni particularly so:  as for me, I bathe in the river, a rapid little mountain stream, every morning at 6-1/2, and find such good from the practice that I shall continue it, and whatever I can get as like it as possible, to the end of my days, I hope:  the strength of all sorts therefrom accruing is wonderful:  I thought the shower baths perfection, but this is far above it....  I was so rejoiced to hear from you, and think you so wise in staying another month.  I sent the ‘Ath.’ to 151 R. de G. Kindest love to papa:  we can’t get news from England, but the Americans have paid up the rest of the money for ‘Aurora:’  by the by, in this new book of Ruskin’s, the drawing book,[56] he says ’"Aurora Leigh” is the finest poem written in any language this century.’  There is a review of it, which I have not yet got, in the ‘Rivista di Firenze’ of this month.  God bless you.  I will write very soon again.  Do you write at once.  Ba will add a word.  How fortunate about the books!  How is Milsand?  Pray always remember my best love to him.

* * * * *

E.B.  Browning to Miss Browning

[Same date.]

My dearest Sarianna,—­Robert will have told you, I dare say, what a heavy time we have had here with poor Lytton.  It was imprudent of him to come to Florence at the hottest of the year, and to expose himself perfectly unacclimated; and the chance by which he was removed here just in time to be nursed was happy for him and all of us.  We have had great heat in the days even here, of course—­no blotting out, even by mountains, of the Italian sun; but the cool nights extenuate very much—­refresh and heal.  Now I do hope the corner is turned of the illness.  Isa Blagden has been devoted, sitting up night after night, and Robert has sate up four nights that she might not really die at her post.  There is nothing infectious in the fever, so don’t be afraid.  Robert is quite well, with good appetite and good spirits, and Peni is like a rose possessed by a fairy.  They both bathe in the river, and profit (as I am so glad you do).  Not that it’s a real river, though it has a name, the Lima.  A mere mountain stream, which curls itself up into holes in the rocks to admit of bathing.  Then, as far as they have been able on account of Lytton, they have had riding on donkeys and mountain ponies, Peni as bold as a lion.