Your _Dedication_ will be accepted with a true sense of kindness and honor together; I shall be proud and thankful.

But perhaps you have changed your mind in the course of this long silence.
And now where's room for Robert?
* * * * * _To Miss I.Blagden_ Villa Alberti, [Siena]: Tuesday [September-October, 1859].
Ever dearest Isa,--Yes, I am delighted.
Evviva il nostro re! It isn't a very distinct acceptance, however, but as distinct as could be expected reasonably.[68] Under conditions, of course.
On Friday morning before noon up to our door came Mr.Russell's carriage.

He had closed with Robert's proposition at once, and we made room for him without much difficulty, and were very glad to see him.

I didn't go in to dinner, and he and Robert went to the Storys in the evening--so that it wasn't too much for me--and then I really like him--he is refined and amiable, and acute and liberal (as an Englishman can be), full of 'traditions' or prejudices, to use the right word.

To my surprise he _knew_ scarcely anything; and, as I modestly observed to Robert, 'didn't understand the Italian question half as well as I understand it.' Of course there was a quantity of gossip in the anti-Napoleon sense; how the Emperor told the King of the peace over the soup, twirling his moustache; and how the King swore like a trooper at the Emperor in consequence; and how the Emperor took it all very well--didn't mind at all and how, and how--things which are manifestly impossible and which Robert tells me I ought not to repeat, in order not to multiply such vain tales.