1825-1826] The Sismondis alone at Chene 177 



will share for they love you dearly. I am, my dear Bess, 

 Your most affectionate J. W. 



The tour to Venice was given up, and the family returned 

 home in September, after two months spent at Chene, in- 

 cluding a short visit to Chamounix. The tour in all had lasted 

 nine months. They arrived at Maer on October 1st, 1825. 



In spite of any drawbacks which may have arisen from 

 their want of enterprise, this tour was an immense advan- 

 tage to Emma in enlarging her sympathy and outlook. She 

 never lost her wish to see new scenes, and even to within 

 a few years of my father's death had day-dreams of another 

 tour abroad. 



Madame Sismondi to her sister Mrs Josiah Wedgwood. 



[CHENE], FKIDAT, Sept. 9 [1825]. 



. . . Dearest Bessy, how long have I been accustomed to 

 your sweet face as my inmate; you seem by this visit to 

 belong doubly to me, and how do you think I can live with- 

 out it now ? I never felt a parting so much and so long 

 before ; there is no describing the desolation of the house 

 the very cats seemed to feel it. The servants seemed to 

 have pity on me, and came to me with a gentle step and low 

 voice and sad look as if a death had been in the house. 

 They have been expatiating to M. Hermes on the Angels 

 they have had to serve, from whom I have had it again in 

 language that you would all laugh at as exaggerated, but 

 which suits me exactly. I long for a letter, and shall go 

 by and by to the town in spite of the rain to see if I have the 

 good luck of a word from, it seems to me now, the only 

 people I love in the world. I hate everybody here. I 

 believe it is very true that women know how to love only 

 by contrast. I am unwilling to think that it is a fault 

 peculiarly my own, I must correct it if it is; when faults 

 are general to our nature I do not trouble my head about 

 them ; it is vain to struggle against them, and if I succeeded 

 in destroying one it is ten to one 1 did not destroy with 

 it some great charm. Munier gave us a beautiful sermon; 



