[Venice—Tuesday, 4 December 1888]
Splendid sun, no wind. To Lido, 4 Fontane, where R.B. said he would live, all the year round, if he had not his new London house. That day week he would be in London. Talked of what he should read aloud tomorrow—and fixed on ‘The Inn Album’ (wh. he once called ‘one of my best things.’[)] He read it over in eveg & find it long for readg aloud—at least 2 hours. Nor does it seem to say what he rates it & many great authors are not their own best judges–
