George Eliot declared that she had had an exceptionally good night, and was delighted with the talk of the magnificently black-bearded father, who superintended our meal, while a lay brother waited on us.
The former was to start in a day or two on his triennial holiday, and he was much excited at the prospect of it.

His _naif_ talk and quite childlike questions and speculations as to times and distances, and what could be done in a day, and the like, amused George Eliot much.
In reckoning up his available hours he deducted so much in each day for the due performance of his canonical duties.

I remarked to him that he could read the prescribed service in the diligence, as I had often seen priests doing.

"Secular priests no doubt!" he said, "but that would not suit one of _us!_" Our ride up to the Sagro Eremo was a thing to be remembered! I had seen and done it all before; but I had not seen or done it in company with George Eliot.

It was like doing it with a new pair of eyes, and freshly inspired mind! The way is long and steep, through magnificent forests, with every here and there a lovely enclosed lawn, and fugitive peeps over the distant country.