r should have been written yesterday if I hadn't
been interrupted. Such a pleasant journey we had, after the curse of the
sea! ('_Where there shall be no more sea_' beautifies the thought of
heaven to me. But Frederick Tennyson's prophets shall compound for as
many railroads as they please.)

In fact, we did admirably by land. We were of unbridled extravagance,
and slept both at Lyons and Dijon, and travelled by express trains
besides, so that we were almost alone the whole way, and able to lie at
full length and talk and read, and 'Doit et Avoir' did duty by me, I
assure you--to say nothing of 'Galignanis' and French newspapers. I was
nearly sorry to arrive, and Robert suggested the facility of 'travelling
on for ever so.' He (by help of _nux_) was in a heavenly state of mind,
and never was the French people--public manners, private customs,
general bearing, hostelry, and cooking, more perfectly appreciated than
by him and all of us. Judge of the courtesy and liberality. _One_ box
had its lid opened, and when Robert disclaimed smuggling, 'Je vous
crois, monsieur' dismissed the others. Then the passport was never
looked at after a glance at Marseilles. I am thinking of writing to the
'Times,' or should be if I could keep my temper.

So you see, dear Isa, I am really very well for me to be so pert. Yes,
indeed, I am very well. The journey did not overtire me, and change of
air had its usual reviving effect. Also, Robert keeps boasting of his
influx of energies, and his appetite is renewed. We have resolved
nothing about our sea plans, but have long lists of places, and find it
difficult to choose among so many enchanting paradises, with drawbacks
of 'dearness,' &c. &c. Meanwhile we are settled comfortably in an hotel
close to the Tuileries, in a pretty salon and pleasant bedrooms, for
which we don't pay exorbitantly, taken for a week, and we shall probably
outstay the week. Robert has the deep comfort of finding his father, on
whose birthday we arrived, looking ten years younger--really, I may say
so--and radiant with joy at seeing him and Peni. Dear Mr. Browning and
Sarianna will go with us wherever we go, of course.

Paris looks more beautiful than ever, and we were not too dead to see
this as we drove through the streets on Wednesday evening. The
development of architectural splendour everywhere is really a sight
worth coming to see, even from Italy. Observe, I always feel the charm.
And yet I yearn back to my Flore