Shopping and Eating

We went out about eleven and bought some little things we needed. I bought the materials for a boudoir cap and an aluminum pan to scramble eggs – and Helen bought blacking* and braid. We wandered around the streets gazing in the windows, and finally came back for lunch about one. Then the wood alcohol gave out and I started to find some and went to six stores before I got it. A man started to give me some thick brown stuff which proved to be varnish. We had a nice lunch – eggs, milk, rolls, and I had a melon and cake besides. Then I took my daily lesson in reading the newspaper from Mr. Betham. Then Helen and I went out and took a long walk in a new direction following Via Torino. It was very interesting. We went into several old churches – came back to the Cooperative Ristorante and had a good dinner for 2 francs a piece. Then we went home and found a new boarder, a Miss Horsey from Washington. She has an engagement Nov. 1st in Washington and she is crazy to get back on the first boat going. She is very pessimistic about the situation. I suppose I ought to be and perhaps don’t realize the danger, but I am entirely enjoying myself very well. I began a letter to Alfred this morning.
We had a curious dessert – a kind of egg nog whipped up with white wine – very good. It is called Zabalione. [zabaglione]
* shoe polish