| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding Aunt's illness under the strain of the heat and preparations for the journey; the weather is strange and is affecting their noses and throats; Uncle is resigned to the irritation; translation of anodyne passage from Italian newspaper, and hopes of juicier news in France; great coverage of the King's actions and the affection felt for him by the soldiers; photographs to be sent to parents when Aunt Amy has finished with them; they are pleased with them; description of clothes in them, particularly the colours; Italian ready-made clothes are nowhere near as good as German; Fulvio is keen for them to leave so that he can do what he likes; letter from Miss Forster Walker, an elderly lady with bad nerves; she needed attention but was too thrawn; she has decided to accompany them to Chamonix, despite her ill health; long procedures to obtain clearance from the French consul, and the same procedure is expected from the Italian consul on their return; the old lady is stubborn; Uncle is as bad; visitors think that Uncle is wonderful; Maria is to look after him for a week after Aunt and Amelia's departure, before he goes north; men are not worth the effort they require; the Ericksons are not happy; he does nothing to help his wife even though she is ill from looking after him; they are near to a divorce, but he will not allow her to have the children; Mr. Burns is to marry tomorrow and is still trying to find a doctor willing to certify him fit to fight; if his fiancée had any character she would not put up with it; he was two days in Rome and never called, because, as Uncle said, he does not need them now. |