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4 April 1891 — Villa Pisani, Vescovana | |
Saturday. 4th April [1891]. We had a charming day beautiful weather. It being our hostess’ birthday (her 60th) we did all we could to make it bright for her. She admitted me into her room before she got up & I found her bed heaped with letters & papers. She had many kind letters & a beautiful piece of poetry from Mr Symonds & a nice one from Mr Brown. I gave her a copy of my good old friend G. Herberts’ poems—& a doz. plants of carnations I had got from Genoa for her. We had a long intimate talk in the course of which she sobbed bitterly at the sad thought of the persecution she endures from her own brother & how she had been smitten by her own mother & brothers bad conduct—but then she became calm & brightened & I left her to dress. At 12 we lunched & directly afterwards Ola, Nela, Madge & Mr Brown set off to drive to the hills in search of flowers & took their tea with them. Henry & I went for a drive towards S. Elena & went over the villa & gardens of Count a Paduan family. There were no flowers & the lawn was very bare—but the garden was well laid out– A deep lake had been dug abt 30 years ago & the ground removed had made pretty hills & valleys & was really very parklike. It must have been an enormous expense. There is also a column to celebrate the failure to make an artesian well. After digging 300 ft & finding nothing but sand. On our return to Vescovana we had tea & sat talking till the young people returned bringing flowers & plants– Dined at 7 & Mr Brown left directly after & returned to Venice. We had a performance of tableaux vivants for the benefit of Css Pisani & her household—& they were very successful. It was 11.30 before we separated & retired to bed. At dinner we drank the Css health & D. Antonio addressed her in English verse of his own composition which gave rise to much merriment. | |
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