43 Via Bocca di Leone) they passed the winter.

Both were now actively engaged on their new volumes of poetry--Mr.Browning on his 'Men and Women,' Mrs.Browning on 'Aurora Leigh,' both of which were, however, still far from completion.
* * * * * _To Mrs.Jameson_ Via Bocca di Leone, Rome: December 21, 1853.
My dearest Mona Nina,--I have been longer than I thought to be in Rome without writing to you, especially when I have a letter of yours for which to thank you.

My fancy was to wait till I had seen Gerardine in her own home, and then to write to you, but I have called on her three times, and the three Fates have been at it each time to prevent my getting in.

Still, we have met _here_, and I would rather not wait any longer for whatever might be added to what I have seen and know already....
Ah, dearest friend! you have heard how our first step into Rome was a fall, not into a catacomb but a fresh grave[29], and how everything here has been slurred and blurred to us, and distorted from the grand antique associations.

I protest to you I doubt whether I shall get over it, and whether I ever shall feel that this is Rome.