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28 October 1882 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 28th October [1882]. There was a fearful storm all night. Our windows & doors shook—it thundered & lightened. I was awoke in the morning by a great smash wh brought me flying out of bed. It proved to be my toilet glass wh was blown head over heels on the floor. Hill opened the window to open the shutters—having imprudently left the door open. At breakfast time there was a great clap of thunder following close on most vivid lightening wh must have fallen somewhere near. Beppo sent us word the Piazza was under water & offered to take us to see it. I & the 2 girls went. It was blowing hard & pouring. When we got to the Salute we found quite waves. There was water over the Piazzetta in places but one was prevented going over in gondola by a temporary wooden bridge which was put across for the convenience of foot passengers. The waves were dashing up & it was rather uncomfortable lest the gondola shd be banged against the stone side of the Piazzetta so Beppi took us to the Luna Hotel where we were able to disembark easily & had a very short distance to run to get under the Procuratie. We found a crowd walking there watching people in sandalos who were being taken about to be able to say that they had been on the Piazza in a boat. The tide was going down a little & it was not east to row so men were wading & pushing the boats along amongst the jeers of the crowd. We met Cortelazzo & he said he was coming home with us. The rain & wind beat us abt & our umbrellas were turned inside out & poor Cortelazzo took fright & when he got to the edge turned back & refused to come. It was curious to observe the height of the tide as we went along. In some places it was nearly up to the windows of the ground floor, In the Palazzo Guiccioli the gondola was floating in the front hall. In order to get to & fro our gondola Beppi had to make an arrangement of boxes. All our cellars were full of water & our coals & wood floating about. We came back from the Piazza & did not go out again. There was a quarrel between Jerry & Maurice & I had to drag away Jerry & talked to him for an hour before he wd give up his plans of vengeance & would promise me not to attempt to “skin M.” with hot water. Modelled—& after lunch played harmonium with Mildred & practised guitar. Henry went out in spite of the downpour—at moments the rain came down like a water spout—at times it hailed & at times flakes of snow came down & it blew hard most of the day, so that one was glad when it was time to shut the shutters & to have the lights. However the wind went down suddenly & we had a gleam of sun & a very calm evening. I wrote letters in eveng & we had no reading. After dinner Mildred began to play the piano but so badly I had to stop her & send her to bed. Alice & I played the harmonium & piano—then Cribbage. | |
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