“To Florence?” Hermione exclaimed. “Did he really say that he was sending me to Florence?”
“To a Finishing School there, where only the elite of Society send their daughters,” her father explained. “His Lordship has chosen it because you will have there the best art teachers available and that is what he thought you wanted.”
“I cannot believe it!” Hermione said. “I never dreamt – never imagined I would ever leave this village and see the world – but Florence – Italy! Oh, Papa, how can I ever thank him?”
“We are all very grateful,” the doctor replied. “At first I felt much embarrassed by his generosity, but he persuaded me to accept it for your sakes and I cannot believe that he would do anything that was not right.”
“Of course he is right,” Hermione said, “and Papa, I will work so hard
