Private Correspondences of Mimsy Hargreaves 1

The Honorable Mrs. Gerald Vandovener
Rose Cottage, Campbell House
36 Hadley
Goddards Green, Sussex
Angleland

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Maman,

You see how neatly I keep my up my Promised correspondences with you, no matter how far we roam. Harold is a great success with the Consul, so he tells me, and finds that both the light and the Air of the city are far more agreeable to him than those of London. The Light is changed here; golden even at the edge of a stormy winter that has had the Sea right at the doors of our Pensionne four days out of seven. I find the Air to be quite Damp, but am assured by all and sundry that the Damp here is the healthful sort, clean as the sea, not the Miasma to be found in the regions near the Thames. It does seem to have done Harold good, as he works well into the evenings and often does not return until I have taken my Self to bed. Still, in the heart of the night I sometimes Fancy I still hear the old Rattle in his lungs, and cannot bring myself to plead for a swift return.

We are meant to find an Apartment of our own, but remain in Mrs. Grabapple's Pensionne, much to the Lady's (and I will confess it only here, in the quiet space of our Correspondences, but I have most sharp doubts that there was ever a Mr. Grabapple to bestow upon her those Widow's weeds the Lady wears) pleasure. She does not like Me, but she adores our coin and Harold is ever able to charm her.

The locals are suspicious, superstitious, supercilious, and naively charming. Harold has not permitted me to attend one of their Religious ceremonies, and thus I cannot regale you with stories of incense and golden Icons and their cloistered religious women, Swooning when the spirit of their Goddess touches them while the men swarm like dark arms of the father. Certain Acquaintances assure me that in fact the ceremonies are nothing like the Demonic cast they assume in Mrs. Ubaldo's novels, but maman, the whole city has a certain listing edge to it that gives me quite a delicious Shiver when I slip open the pages of one of her fine, Stout accountings and listen to the calls of the Roustabouts over the waters of the canals.

Now I feel that I have done my Duty and given you sufficient Portait of our position in the city, I can luxuriate in my keen News. Oh Maman, I have been given an invitation by Mina, Lady Chester, to join her for Tea this Tuesday next. I know that Lady Chester is a figure of some Ill Repute in London. But here, Maman, she is considered an Original and beloved both by the First Families and the Exile community. I have been planning what I may wear and have made myself endless Notes about pleasant Observations I may make to her for her Divertissement. I Pray that a good impression will earn me an invitation to apply the Ladies' Perambulation Society. Of which Mina, Lady Chester, is the founder and Doyenne.

Pray for me, maman, as these next weeks I daresay will determine whether I am to be a Success or a Failure in our golden exile for poor Harold's health and recuperation.

Love,

Your Mimsie

The Lady Harold Hargreaves
Pensionne de Sebastiani
c/o Mrs. Millicent Grabapple
Rio Terà dei Pensieri, 345
0135 Venice, Italy