My mother's book was duly written, and published by Mr.Bentley in 1842.

But the _Visit to Italy_, as the work was entitled (with justly less pretence than the titles of either of its predecessors had put forward), was in truth all too short.

And I find that almost all of the huge mass of varied recollections which are connected in my mind with Italy and Italian people and things belong to my second "visit" of nearly half a century's duration! We made, however, several pleasant acquaintances and some fast friends, principally at Florence, and thus paved the way, although little intending it at the time, for our return thither.
Our visit was rendered shorter than it would probably otherwise have been by my mother's strong desire to be with my sister, who was expecting the birth of her first child at Penrith.

And for this purpose we left Rome in February, 1842, in very severe weather.

We crossed the Mont Cenis in sledges--which to me was a very acceptable experience, but to my mother was one, which nothing could have induced her to face, save the determination not to fail her child at her need.
How well I remember hearing as I sat in the _banquette_ of the diligence which was just leaving Susa for its climb up the mountain amid the snow, then rapidly falling, the driver of the descending diligence, which had accomplished its work and was just about entering the haven of Susa, sing out to our driver--"_Vous allez vous amuser joliment la haut, croyez moi_!" We did not, however, change the diligence for the sledges till we came to the descent on the northern side.