1858] FOREIGN LIFE 489
had one or two more happy days. On the morning after our arrival at Lucca town, we were astonished by sounds of loud singing in the passage, and going out, found all those we had so ree.ent.ly parted from at the Bagni singing in chorus some more verses which they had composed as u a serenade," and bringing for us a picture of the Poute alia Maddalena, painted on a stone out of the river. We quickly determined to spend the day in going with them to Pisa, and making an excursion to the (<ombo, where the Pisan pines end in the sands by the seashore — and we did not return till midnight. It was the custom at Lucca for those who drew to make little sketches in the travellers1 book at the hotel, and I had amused myself by doing one the day before, and inscribing it u View from the walls of Lucca/' though it was a wretched performance. When we came back, wo found a most lovely drawing opposite?!, inscribed —4fc View from the Walls of Lucca as it really is.11 The (Jrand Duke's artist had boon at the hotel in the interval.
We travelled then with delicious slowness, only rolling onwards through the most glorious scenery in the cool mornings and evenings, and resting in the heat of mid-day, while, as at this time we only took our carriage from place to place, we had no scruple in halt-ing for days at Pictra Santa, with its glorious views over the mountains, and old convents embosomed in olives and cypresses; in making excursions to Serrave/,/,a and to dismal Carrara; in lingering at La Spe/ia, where the avenue, of oleanders was in full blaze of bloom, and driving thence to Porto Vonore