1 57 Grove Street
2 July 16 / 91
3
4 My darling sister
5
6 I was so glad to get your letter this morning. Your joy makes me very
7happy. I believe the two years rest will entirely restore you. Try &
8read; it rests one so. Get Ruskins Modern Painters. The small two vol
9new edition, which is practically re-written & much improved.
10
11 I am so happy when all I think of your happiness dear. It seems one of
12the few quite beautiful things, I have to think of just now.
13
14 Seymour Fort has gone for good to Mashona-land. He quarrelled with the
15Lochs about Sir Henry niece with whom her was in love. She is a very
16sweet girl, & very fond of him She has gone to England now. Sh I loved
17her very much.
18
19 Will & all his are very well & flourishing. Dot grows beautiful, & so
20does Baby.
21
22 Maggie is still with them. (Private) She seems very unhappy &
23depressed, & she seems a great tie on Fan too who is very sweet &
24unselfish to her. They haven’t asked her to stay there, but she stays
25on & on. I can see it adds great pressure to Will’s life. I can’t say
26any thing to her, but couldn’t you suggest to her how well it would be
27if she got a situation at some Dutch farm, did something to make
28herself independent. She can’t stay with Emma, she doesn’t get on with
29Earp. I think something you said would be more likely to rouse her. If
30she does marry, she ought to marry at once, or break it off.
31
32 I have seen the dear old Baas & Katie once. I feel much nearer them
33than I used to be. You will They are so much broader.
34
35 I am well physically have had no asthma since I came down. I am have
36been two months in these lodgings & shall perhaps stay two more. I
37can’t tell you much about myself dear. I feel torpid & not able to do
38much. I will send you a little story I have written the Buddhist
39Priests Wife, & an article & another little story. I have not spoken
40to Mr Rhodes for two months except once for an instant. He is I had to
41oppose him on the native flogging bill, but I think that is not really
42the reason. What ever it may be I feel able to take it quietly Nothing
43is ever really taken away from one that one really has a right to;
44however much it may seem so.
45
46 Seymour Fort will be up in Mashona-land for some years. I am anxious
47for him.
48
49^My darling you will understand this letter & not think it cold & hard.
50I have plenty of power to think of & love other people & help them if
51I can, none to express anything. I send you a beautiful letter I got
52from old Lilly this morning.
53
54 Good bye dear. Love to the children. Do you ever go to Ventnor. I
55spent a long terrible winter there. That is why I thought you would
56not like it, I suppose.
57
58 Your little sister
59 Olive^
60