“After a very feverish night I writ a letter to you, and I have been distressed about it ever since. In the first place I have thought I treated too lightly your differences with your brother—which I freely enter into, and feel for, but I rather wished to defer saying much about [them] till we meet. But that which gives me most concern is the way in which I talked about your mother’s illness, and which I have since feared you might construe into my having a doubt of your showing her proper attention without my impertinent interference. . . . . .
“Your kind heart will, I know, even if you have been a little displeased, forgive me, when I assure you my spirits have been so much hurt by my last illness, that at times I hardly know what I do. I do not mean to alarm you about myself, or to plead an excuse, but I am very much otherwise than you have always known me.
“Write immediately, my dear Sarah, but do not notice this letter, nor do not mention anything I said relative to your poor mother. Your handwriting will
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“I would desire you to direct to me at home, but your hand is so well known to Charles, that that would not do. . . .
“Pray write directly, and believe me, ever
“Nov. 14. I have kept this by me till to-day, hoping every day to hear from you. If you found the seal a clumsy one, it is because I opened the wafer. . . . I do not mean to continue a secret correspondence, but you must oblige me with this one letter. In future I will always show my letters before they go, which will be a proper check upon my wayward pen.
