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24 June 1908 — Mezzaratta, Bologna | |
Wednesday. 24th [June 1908]. I went off soon after 9 & left Bologna by the 10.20 train for Milan. My farewell with dear Da Laura was quite affecting. She told me she felt towards me as she had done for a French lady she had known from her youth Mme Delessert—& we cared for the same things, work, books &c. Da Laura is over 80 & had had a brilliant life—sang beautifully & was very handsome– Now she is alone & her sight is failing– Her son married to a 2nd rate American woman, her daughter the wife of the Great German Chancellor Bülow & lives far away at Berlin. Da Laura spends the winters with her, but is getting rather deaf & her sight is dimmer so that the life in the world is more difficult to her than it was—but her heart is young & she is active & erect & everyone loves her. I am sorry I could not remain longer with her. Reached Milan at 2 & after having food there started again in the train de luxe at 4.20. Went thro’ the Simplon before dark & as I passed Brieg thought of the days I had spent there with Henry & his descriptions of his having stayed there as a boy when his parents were driving to Italy with their children. While passing the Lago Maggiore I had a heartache going back to the many delightful days we spent at Baveno. | |
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