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-ains [[mountains]] and the sun sets behind them.  We left Florence at 12.25 today - perfect weather - and no one in the carriage with us all the way - got here at 3.47 and drove in omnibus right to this Hotel—  I think we are the only other guests that are here beside one man, in whose company we have just table d'hôte— 
I dont think they are as much accustomed to young English (of course) ladies travelling alone - here as at other places and we are considerably eyed to say the least - but nothing worse happens—  They are afraid of us and dont dare to trifle.   I try to pretend I am Signora - and assume as dignified and aged an air as possible—   I was afraid they would speak only Italian here but a little cherub-faced waiter at once took us [[charge?]] as we entered the hall of his palace and we communed in French but as my impure French has become further somewhat tainted by Italian I did not make such a fine show of language as usual.    Our Baedecker dont


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include Siena - so we feel very lonely and [[unconducted?]] without it—  I borrowed an Italian Guide with map - from one of the Hotel-officials and May and I went right out into the winding narrow streets and felt our way to the Duomo—  We have seen nothing but Venice and Vitré so picturesque as this place. And to see it just before and at Sunset—  

As we were coming home through one narrow street the big moon peeped at us through the slit between the houses as the street wound and turned—  [[sketch]]  Do you see it?  I [[remove?]] the effect of light and shade!    We were in ecstasies—   The duomo is so superbly rich - All creamy yellow and grey and white marble - covered with exquisite carving and has all sorts of big loggia's and 'remains' of the same sort of thing attached to and all around it—   And the town being on the crown of a high hill obliges every thing in it to be irregular and to have flights of steps in all sorts of queer places—

Transcription Notes:
table d'hôte = host table ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-09 14:20:15