Page:Life of Octavia Hill as told in her letters.djvu/258

 leave our country to serve it." And I said, "Yes, it did not matter how, but we must all do it." I kept catching glimpses of the mountains in the distance, and presently he said, "There is something out there which pleases you from time to time." So I told him what it was; and after that he was so kind in warning me to look here or there, for the mountains would be in sight.&hellip; He behaved extremely well, and I think he thought I was the queerest creature he ever saw.&hellip; He was rather sneering at the Prussian lady for being une savante and for travelling alone. I was looking out of the window and thinking. He said, "You smile continually; one sees that you think of what is dear to you. Are you thinking of your country?" So I just told him I was thinking one could travel alone or do this or that or anything when one was really sure that God was with one; and that one often knew it best when one was alone. Then I said all things, all people, help one. "But," he persisted, "those who really are brave because they know this, they do all things with a different manner, such a manner that all who meet them feel too that they are in His presence and under His protection."

Well, I was very thankful for the dear home letters.&hellip; I have seen literally nothing of the city as yet. I am to do the picture for Lady Abercrombie. Was it not fortunate I did not go on Saturday from Chambery? A portion of the Mt. Cenis fell and blocked up the road; the diligences had all to be unloaded, and people and luggage carried across a torrent and past the blocked portion of the road to other vehicles beyond.